Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-11-28


 manage for him his estates in Vir- 1 ginia. Settled in the great white house under the Virginia oaks and walnuts, Jane would miss but little ] of tbe luxury of her present abode.
 There was tiutter of white upon the staircase, soft step across the hall. Godfrey sprang to his feet. "Jane" he cried, holding out both hands; but the one hand Jane gave him was cold-cold despite the fra grant warmth of the night. "Ah, Jane," cried Warrington, the heat of his own emotions making him impervious for the nonce to the chill of her demeanor, "how I have longed for this moment, for this opportunity to see you, since that blessed night when you saved my life; and did far more than save it-made it worth the living by tell ing me that you loved me. It seems incredible that but four days have passed since then. They seem rather like four months, so tagging has been each moment until I could again be with you"
 With an effort Jane freed her hand from his strong clasp and moved away from him to the edge of the 1 portico.
 Capt, Worthington," she said, without looking at him, "I pray that you will forget that night and all that occurred then. Let LIS cancel it l from our memory"
 Cancel it?" he gasped. Cancel it? Jane, what do you mean2 Is this some joke, some witticism, that am too dull to see the humor of?' Nay" she answered, half turning towards him and speaking in a voice 1 f1rmness, E'when I tell you that I am ] betrothed to Col. Besse1ner you will 1 possib]y-understand
 'tBetrothed to Col Bessemer? And since when?" He came closer. ''Since when? Were you, perhaps, be- ] trothed to him that night when you risked your life to save mine: when l what made that life worth the saw ing was the belief that you glorifed 1 it by your love? Tell me, Jane, were you betrothed to Col. Bessemer' l then?" He laid his hand upon her arm.
 1 She shrank back. "No-since." "'Since? And with the memory of that night before you? No, will not believe it. You are playing with me; but seeking to test my love-my l faith in you. Know, then, that there is no test you can bring to bear 1 which it will not stand. I believe l lieve in God.''
 1 The girl threw out her hand in gesture of despair. How hard, how bitterly hard, he was making it. He came still closer. Speak to me, beloved" he said. "Teu me why you thought it necessary to put me 1 to this test?"
 She clasped her hands in front of 1 her. Temptation was pressing her close; pressing her to throw herself l into his arms; to tell him all; to ac, l quaint him with that wretched bar gain she had made; but if she should l yieId--if she should tell him? What 1 then? It would mean the forfeit of 1 his life or Bessener's. She knew that l he would never rest until one life or the other had paid the penalty. No, TO; honor, duty, everything de- { should pay the price. It was she who' l had done the bargaining; she had bought with her eyes open; and was the price too great to pay for that which she had bought? With the living man beside her, could she re- 1 gret her purchase? If she had it to do over, would she not again do what she had done? Just to know that he was in the world, was that not enough to pay any price for?
 She turned to the figure beside her. In stress of excitement, Capt. Worthington,' she said, "we oft do that which our cooler judgment does not approve. You and have been friends from childhood. I have long looked upon you as a brother. Your 1 life Is nearly as precious to me as my own brothers. That night, when l had devised way to save it and you were so laggard in availing your self of the opportunity I-
 'You?" He bent his dark head to- wards her.
 A soft-footed, dusky figure had A minute before lighted the tree of candles which stood upon the carved
 
 shone through the broad entrance and spread across the portico, but Jane resolutely kept her face turned towards the twilight, which was deepening into night, and the bril- liant glow at her back served rather 1 to throw her features into shadow than to betray their emotions.
 "And you-what, Jane?' Godfrey prodded gently.
 She clasped and unclasped her hands nervously. The task she had set herself was a lacerating one, hut she went on with it bravely, if falter- ingly. And it may be that Tin my anxiety that my old-time friend, that Mary's brother. should not recl1lessly throw the chance of saving his life away, it may be that in the furry of the moment, in the press of l crowding events, lied you to be,