Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1904-05-27
[y love for you has carried me to,

AL, IL uOeS not matter. You Will
forget it as readily as will. And per-
haps, after all, 1t was my own fault.
But you must always allow for a wom-
an changing her affections. 1t is a
woman's way, you know"
mo, did not know" coldly.
"Why not? She may vary her frocks
why not her affectons?'
''For heavens sake, don't talk like
that. You might be a heartless firt
by your tone"
II hardly think I am that, for your
sex does not interest me sufficiently.
But 1 am a woman Of the world, and
not silly, love-sick girl"
II never imagined you to be silly,
love-sick girl, any more than thought
Of you as woman of the world as
you put it. Perhaps 1t will amuse you
to hear that was foolish enough to
think you were-well, altogether diff
ferent."
Eyes, it is rather absurd" she an
swered, driving her nails into her left
hand as she stood up and held out her
right one TO him, "Goodbv. There is
no need to extend this interview. Be-
sides, am busy tonight. You will
excuse me-"
He took her hand and held it tight
ly, as he looked into the tired gray
eyes.
Elizabeth, Elizabeth" he whisper
ed, what does it all mean7 Have you
nothing kind to say to me?"
"Yes; forget me as soon as you can.
And-you will lose your beauty sleep
If you don't 60 quickly"
He dropped her hand and went out
Of the house.
Her acting had been a success, too
much Of success, for not only had
he gone away with the idea that she
was Indifferent to him, but she had
forced him to despise her for her lev
ity. Yet. after all, it was better thus;
it would be less difficult for him to
cast her out of his heart.
She certainly did look plain. Yet her
appearance had not made any differ
ence to him. All! that look Of concern
in his eyes when he asked her If she
was i'll. Why couldn't she have told
him? 1t would have been so sweet to
have had his loving sympathy!
And If her operation was to be as Sc
rious, and the result as fatal, as she
feared, was there not some way in
which she might, before it was too
late, wipe out the false impression she
had made tonight? She could not
bear the thought that he would think
bitterly of her-afterward. Surely it
would be some comfort to him to know
the truth then. Yes, he must be told.
She would write letter and confess
all. If she lived, 1t must be destroyed;
If she died, 1t must be delivered.
IL have sent you away from me-"
she wrote, "and am now breaking my
heart because 1 will never look into
your face again. David, tonight
acted part to you. l forced myself
to be cold and false. I made myself
fright to prevent you telling me of
your love. 1 knew that If you did so
l would not have the strength to re-
sist you. l did not want you to guess
that 1 cared. l wanted you to think
me heartless fiirt-to despise me
anything, rather than you should re-
gret or have a heart-ache.
To-day my doctor told me that I
must go under the knife within the
next few days. He said that there
was a slight chance, but in my heart
1 know that, If l do live, will be a
weak, sickly woman. But I don't be-
lieve there is a chance, so l want to
tell you how dear you are to me be-
fore it is too late. love you as only a
woman can love man who represents
everything that is good and strong and
true to her. For nearly two years l
have waited to hear you say what you
said tonight. Six months ago l pre-
vented you because l was not, quite
sure; I thought it would be wiser for
you to wait until you returned. 1
could not realize that the glory of your
love should be showered on me. I
thought it fair for you to see other
women before you offered your life to
me.
David, I want you to understand
how desperately hard 1t was to refuse
to listen to you tonight. 1t was the
greatest sacrifice have ever made in
my life, and prayed for strength to
do it. My whole being revolted at the
part set myself to play, although 1
felt 1t was best for you-now and af-
terward. Can yon forgive me, Da-
vdW
She then rang for her maid, and, af-