Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-09-17

myself and own you as such after"
The words fell from his lips so tender
ly, 50 kindly. she took his hand in both
of hers, and laid her face upon il, cry
ing silently.
The blame of il all is on our friend.
the doctor" he continued, deeply
touched, and his voice little unsteady.
What a tumultuous, beadlong. hurri-
cane sort OF fellow he isl There is no
blame for you; for look, if / am here.
how could you have resisted him? And
1T is only his Judgment that was at
fault, after sll-only his Judgment.
Why. truer heart never beat than
Brodnar's."
Would it offend you if 1 ask a ques-
tion?" She had waited for composure.
and now did not lift her head
why, no, of course"
"Ycu are right sure2"
Right sure"
Then, how could any gentleman
consent to be placed in such a position
as yours? You must have known how
embarrassing it was to be for me- His
first inclination was to whistle out his
astonishment, but he restrained him
self
'You forget, my child see you have
backslided into childhood-you forget
that In the first place was appealed to
In behalf of woman and no gcntlema n
may resist that. And then had no re a
son to suspect that 1 was to marry a
girl. 1t might have been an expert
enced widow. Indeed"
But you are glad it wasn't, are you
notP' she asked, anxiously,
Yes. my child"
Does my question then indicat e tina t
am a child?'
"Yes, my child"
81 don't see why"
Because you are still-a child" She
was not satisfied.
Mr.. Somers, l want you to think
well of me always, and the thought that
may meet you sometime doesn't en-
barrsSs me now. 1t would not embar-
rass me if L did meet you-even if 1
should meet you tomorrow. But wish
You to know all about me, and am go
ing to tell you every thing from the be-
ginning"
mo, indeed, you shall not" he said,
phC l&lNCO hGG q.
why motif l choose? 1 am not
afraid to trust you"
mol no! Miss Frances"
"Ah, am a woman againl"
Yes, woman of a charm so sweet
and heart so true that Richard Som
ers must arm himself. Not your honor,
but mine, the honor of your husband,
is at stake, and you promised to regard
that always"
And L shall, sir; only tell me how"
why, have promised my friend not
TO seek to find out, or permit anyone
TO tell me anything about you. may
not"
She was silent, disturbed. and won
dering at his intense earnestuess.
Then she said, in awe at the mystery
OF II all: when we part tonight we
are to meet as friends no more? You
may never take my hand in yours and
speak kindly to me again2 oh, sir. YOU
do not know, you do not know what
your tenderness has done for the girl
no, the woman you call child. You
do not know what it is to have missed
fathers care. a mothers"
"Hush!" he cried. mot one word
more. You are making it hard-hard
for me TO keep faith with my friend.
You are betraying his secret" She
threw of his hand and arose suddenly,
with an abandon of passion that over
whelmed him.
What mockeryi what a mockeryi
i am ashsmed-ashamedl 1t is | who
am betrayed" lie had arisen also.
fulI of emotion and almost unnamed,
"Never-at my hands. | chose the
words deliberately. / will honor and
protect you-to the best of my ability;
but my ability ends where my promise
began. All is based upon my contract
with Francis Brodnar, my friend"
"Friend-frieud!" she said. bitterly;
ain Gods name. sir, what am to YOU p"
He was too deeply affected to answer a
once. When he did his voice was I'M
steady.
This: In the hour have been
here YOU haye found an untrodden way
TO the heart of Richard Somers. know
now that no woman was ever there
before you; none will ever follow you.
may not be here to give you my hand
Il do not know the circumstances that
surround you, or even if in winning
your sympathy. am playing false-but
wherever you are, RENE mber that NV
soul follows. and / would keep guard
over you If | might" He spoke with
an earnestness and passion that dis
turbed and alarmed himself Some
thing like groan burst from his lips
when he realized how far he had c~m-
mitted himself, and he sank back in his
chair. There presently she found him.
and resting her hand timidly upon his
arm. she said, gently:
What would you have me answer
you" She was calm and confident
now. At first she had shrunk a little
from him. Her simple, confiding action
restored TO him his calmness.
Il would have you say at what hour
1t is you are accustomed to close the
eyes which look down upon without
seeing mine"
"At nine. But what is this upon your
lapel-a fower?"
"A white rose for our wedding"