Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1905-10-26

eoldly: Il think We will go TO IN,
theater now"
He cast about vainly for a subter
fuge, and at last fell back upon n.
bare fact. we can't go to the theate
now"
And why not?' she asked. "w,
shall only be little late"
Oh, well, if you really want to know
III tell YOU" he said, with a shor
laugh. It's rather a good Joke, bu
somehow had depended upon keep
ing II TO myself. / didn't want TO shar,
1t with you, you see. We can't go be
cause that IS was all | had in Tn,
world. I'm dead broke"
All ~ you - had?" she faltered
All" and she drew a deep breath.
Yes, funny, isn't il? oh, told yol
1t was good joke
He felt that he could never face he
again. Even in the hotel after he hat
followed her to a small upstairs parlo
and seated himself beside her on tn,
sofa he didn't look at her lest her eye
7 should confirm his fear.
john think begin TO under
stand" Was 1t really Eunice's voice
He turned toward her, and as he me
her eyes a great wonder took posses
sion OF him. In the sudden reyulsioI
Of feeling he blurted out: My God
Eunice! don't look at me like that o.
you'll make me say something I'll BE-
sorry for.
Say il, she murmured. I've beeI
waiting 50 long.
He drew away from her frowning
NO, won't say It. Do you think I've
held on 10 myself for seven years Z
let myself go now. Of all times? oh
but you make II hard for fellow
though"
She leaned toward him, where be
shrank back in the corner Of the sofa
Then III say it, John Brockton, viii.
you-marry me? There; now perhaps
I've Inundated myself enough TO sat
isfy your pride" and she gave little
laugh that was half sob.
He rose and lowered over her. "Loob
here. Eunice, do you think I'll marry
rich woman as long as I'm beggar.
may be a duffer, but I'm not a cad.
Then you don't love me after all
Love you?" he echoed. "Oh, no,
don't love you. I've only lived with
one hope and wish ever since | knew
you; I've only worked and riskec
all had and failed miserably because
the one thing in life wanted was you;
but don't love you
She rose. too. and confronted him
with angry eyes. Shall tell you what
you love? You love yourself-your fool.
ish pride your false idea Of honor. Oh
what difference does il make about mon.
ey-hayen't | more than enough for Us
both? Because I'm rich must | go with
out the only thing in life that is worth
haying?"
But, Eunice, you don't understand;
no woman could understand how mar
feels about such things"
'Feels!" she said, eontemptuously
do you call such cold-blooded calcula
ton feeling? And IL is for that you have
left me to suffer all this time!"
Let you suffer-" he repeated, blank
ly. Il thought the suffering had all beer
on my side"
"Oh. Of course, being man you never
thought Of putting yourself in my
place. You don't know Then sud
denly her anger died away. She sank
back on the sofa and her eyes filled with
tears. "oh, John, can't you understand
how | need you?'
As she looked up 10 him through her
tears convention dropped from him as
a garment and all the man in him rose
TO meet her weakness. For the mo.
ment they were primal as Siegfried and
Brunhild on the fire. girt rock He made
a sudden movement toward her.
But the conventions were upon them
once more in the shape of an elderly
man and a middle aged woman, who
sauntered through the doorway and
stood aimlessly chatting in the center
OF the room. Brockton stopped short
and tried to look careless, while all the
time her triumphant face was telling
him: Il have won; have won't He
threw the intruders a savage look and
growled something between his teeth.
Are you aware?' questioned the girl,
that you swore just then-quite VIC
lently?"
"Sworei" he muttered. Haven't II
been mad all these years to take you In
my arms and now-l can't"
At that she began to laugh, and the
laughter grew Historically, until her
eyes were wet, and the contagion OF il
made him join in helplessly yet with
certain wrathful reserve. Then the ell.
derby man disappeared around the cor
ner with the middle-aged woman.