The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1904-03-18
CHAPTER Nv.

W SA4tAx III AVs
Margaret" he cried. what Is 1t?
What Is It., my darling? Speak to met
1t Is nothing" she breathed pain
fully. "You must let me go, Doctor
Cleland; you must leave me-"
Il shall not let you go!" Paul an
swereA vehemently. "You dare not
send me from you. Margaret-you an
mott II nothing else gives me a right
TO you, surely my love does?"
6ho made no answer. but shivered as
II with cold.
Cleland went on ~passionately:
III you can say to me-, Margaret, that
you no longer love me, that the past
+ dead and buried to you, or that you
have been self-deceived when o
Imagined you did love me, then l shaii
50 away and trouble you no more. IL
may be that I shall shortly be leaving
<his country, perhaps forever; ana
felt / could not 60 without
the truth"
He felt her SILVER again, but her
strength came back, and she stoou
street., looking at him with eyes that
had something Of the look OF a hunted
animal at bay In them.
Margaret" he went on slowly. AFTER
: pause. 'you must tell me, now and
here. have you ceased to love me? BY
your answer 1 will abide; it will be
46nal with me-"
A strange look crossed the girls
fAce.
IRE = --A.-. A. >---~~-9O
II shall not leave you till you an
swer," said Cleland. Margaret, It
you can say these words after me
Paul, I no longer love you'll shall be
satisfied and 60 my way. It Is all
Ark.
Again the white hands moved con-
vulsively. It gave Cleland q curious
sensation-as II she had wrung them
plteously. She began slowly:
'Paul, I-no-longer-" Then her
voice dropped and broke into a hall
cob and her face fell between her
hands.
In the silence that followed Paul
C1eland felt his heart quicken its beat
lng. with an emotion that was hall
Joy. half pain. She loved him still,
theni These proud, pure lips OF hers
could not utter an untruth. But the
agony that could wiring that sob from
sslf-contained Margaret Crawford al
most frightened him. He could not
even guess at Its
He spoke at last, in q voice un-
steady and uncertain.
"Then you love me still. Marga-
rotr'
She looked up then and at sight of
hin agitation her own calm seemed to
return. That one pitiful yielding to
weakness had startled her back to her
cid cell. And her woman's heart. for
cetting It's own pain and trouble, tried
70 and some comfort for his.
Paul" she said. gently laying her
hard upon his with q touch that
thrilled him through and through. Il
cannot hide the truth from you. dc
loyo you'll shall love you always; but
there - . reason Why I never al.
low you To speak Of this, why We car
sever. never be anything to each
oGhor. There II Z terrible barrier be-
tween 40 which can never be removed
10 not ask me what Il Isl cannot
tell ron. Do / seem cruel? Believe
M. &c u because I wish to ave yot
Pain that I cannot toll you more
Raal. God haa laid on u both . heavy
burdea; but hs will surely give n
strength % bear It."
Yea ask . hard thing Of me. Mar
essoG,s aid Paul Cisland. huskily
@You AZ Ne TO give you up forever
anA I IN not ven to know why. II
kneu POUR reason. ! might submit K
rear decree; but you cannot expect
Ne tamely to give you up without
knowing why ! nm to do soF
Margaret was silent. She felt tina
g would b easier for her also coult
~ toll him the whole truth: but wha1
eruelty e would b to innict on hin
~ knowledge that his father hat
lied-or taken hin own life. a. Pau
himnol1 seemed TO think-believing hi
son guilty q - fearful : crime?
No he must mover tell the truth
IN xoUA1 own U6A0s AUH IL DaA0 "
- dead, sho must not.
VIII ron not take my word for it7'
- aid at last, very gently. The
hoxs1or between n II in~superable. and
ennnce musG not, tell you the nature
q fG Oh. spare yourself and me
sfnrther pain, Paul. BY leaving me now!
W must ~ % forget
I shall never forget!" said Paul. q
ilttlo harshly. He VA = Scotchman,
an1 adours and obstinate rather than
paasionata. ''You are sacrificing y0ul
Oun happiness and mine, Margaret. t.
eone absurd notion of honor. You
tkink I an coward enough to shrinl
beooee the snssrs q the world yer Z
Odd MANS memory; yOu have. Per
h1Ds, learned altar I'll your father wa
Gu1lty, and you Will not coufess It to
- You would rather wreck my life
- ny h~apptness!"
But the next moment he stood hum
osod and contrite before the look Of
ehcss tsnder. dark eyes, and the cour-
- and sweetness OF the pure, pale
.WA 80 - XTWL Z