Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1902-02-03

very pale and trembled. 1t seemed to
him that a great crisis had come for
him. When he had spoken the first
word. he at once became more master
of himself.
"AIisS Dwight. wish to tell you
something. Will you allow me to say
long time?'
Rhena looked startled. Her lip trem-
bled. She seemed unable to answer.
Stuart went on. Now that he had
made up his mind, he was like his ia
ther in the determination that drove
him to his purpose with an iron energy
that possessed his whole positive ma
ture.
81 have been loving you almost from
the first moment l saw you. You must
have known it from my manner l am
a poor actor. | have not been able to
conceal much, even if had wished to.
But my life has been Transformed by
all this. have reached the place where
l can no longer be silent. l know that l
love you as a man should love the wo-
man whom he asks with all the rever-
wife,
He had spoken, and it was not what
he had once thought he might have
said. But he was not prepared for the
effect of his declaration upon Rhena
She was dressed as usual in her Sal
walton Army costume. The face in the
army bonnet Of blue, with its plain rib
hA,, e 81 Go.
seen everywhere. And yet while Stu
art was speaking and all through the
rest of the interview between them he
thought, with a certain bewilderment,
that it was no longer the Salvation Ar
my girl who stood facing him, but the
society woman, Miss Rhena Dwight,
daughter of Allen Dwight, the million
aire Of New York. And yet she was i'll
still another way removed from him by
the very circumstances Of her army
connections. Rhena was very pale as
she spoke.
"Mr. Duncan" she said as she leaned
back. with one hand on the stump as if
for support, "can you speak to me-tell
-this-after what l saw last night
after
"Whatw cried Stuart the color rush
/ ing to his face. do you mean your
seeing me with Miss Vdsplaine? We
have been old friends. We were boy
and girl together. l was simply going
| home with her from a social gathering
| at my house. She is nothing to me but
an acquaintance"
81 have been told that you were en-
gagged" said Rhena after a slight
! pause.
"Who told you that?' cried Stuart
i1npulsively. He stepped near Rhena.
Your sister,! Rhena spoke calmly,
locking straight at Stuart, but she was
still very pale.
Louise? She deceived you. 1t is
not true. l never had a thought of
Miss Vasplaine except that of a friend
an old acquaintance Do you believe
me when l say sou Stuart spoke
straight on and waited her answer
steadily.
Yes; 1 believe you" said Rhena
quietly.
Then you believe me when 1 say ]
love you? YOU
YES; | believe-I think you are &
true man, but what you ask is impossi
BILE"
Stuart controlled himself. He fell
that whatever the crisis might b(
which now faced him he must be mas
ter of himself 1t began to grow upon
him that perhaps he had not yet woI
the love of this rarely strong and beau
tiful woman, as it should be his.
"Why impossible?' he asked, with :
gentleness and calmness that surpris
ed himself.
1--WE live in separate worlds" re
piled Rhena, with an answering calm
ness that was possibly as surprising t
her. Il have cut myself purposely AM
for always from the life l once lived
] have no wish to re-enter it. | hav
chosen my life work. 1t is work s.
different from that of society and tn
world of which you are part that t
go back to your world would be to turl
traitor to all my deepest and best con
victiOns. 1t is impossible that l shoul
be again as once was"
Stuart did not reply at once. II
looked off over the valley beyond til
town to his own house as it stood Their
on the slope of the hill, palatial in it
form and size.
But l AIN not really in that worl
any more. The cause of humanity
my cause low. Do you condemn m
to separation from you because l al
what | am Outwardly? l loathe til
forms and selfishness and heartles:
ness of society as deeply as you do.
would give anything to be other than
am at this moment. Ii it is simpl
that which keeps you from
He could not finish. 1t was signit
cant to her that he had not ventured
ask her if she loved him. Neithe
had he yet spoken her first name. II
was a man of rare purpose and powe
in the emergency that he now face
He would not expect what was pc
haps not yet in her power to give. 81