Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1905-11-17
4 want you to tell me- he insisted.
She hesitated q few moments.

4
feel sure that he stands first in the
world. you know
Half loaf is better than no bread,
he said.
Surely she cried quickly. nothing
less than the whole could possibly
content youl'
He rose. throwing out his arms
with a quick impulsive gesture.
Il am suing for whatever you can
give me, said Gilbert And remem-
Der. who gives quickly gives twice.
have waited long time already
You deserve womans whole
heart she murmured. But mine is
not whole to give you. Ii is not
possible you can have forgotten what
what happened two years ago
No. have not forgotten. he admit
ted
Her cheeks flushed. her fingers
moved nervously. she looked almost
humble, almost penitent. as she met
his eyes.
IL loved Wray tnen.' she faltered.
as deeply as-as | suppose YOU love
me today
You knew him five weeks. Gilbert
retorted And / have known you
more than half a life time
One person may take n lifetime to
squander his all, she saiu quietly.
another only day. But when il is
gone. and one is SO much poorer.
was a spendthrift Pauline added 4
loved him. felt proud OF loving him
God knows. cried Gilbert. 1 wish
that Warehouse had never crossed
your path
/ am hot quite sure can wish
that, she said. though / ought to wish
II. ard III have tired.
But he continued. wishing won
make any difference One can't get
over che facts. Only Pauline, they
occurred two years age want you
as tncy have lett you-l want YOU as
YOU are today | believe / can make
you happy
on. . am sure! she cried. 1t is
noi ,nat---
Tell NE what it is. he urged. Let
ne hnON where we both stand
Pauline sat with her hands clasped.
staring silently before her Tor a Jew
minutes Then she said
You Know how VIA. first entered
into my life. You ~ ere at Mrs Ven
ables house the afternoon she intro
c1ced him TO me. IL loved him
Can ! say more than that never
doubted that he would ask me to be
his Wife. | hoped so Then, you
remember. we heard he was leaving
England ! met him AT Mrs. Bishops
dlnce--you were there also. hum
bled myself. He told me why he was
going. and IL think | ceased TO be a
reasonable thing. We stood up 10
dance--our last: oh. you know-you
saw how weak | was. how shamefully
exposed myself. 1t is bad hearing
for YOU, she murmured. as Gilbert
rose and turned away impatiently
After a few turns about the room
he came back TO his chair and sat
down again.
'Well?' he said.
Wray went away. Pauline contin-
ued. BY ana by. though not imme-
diately. | came to my senses. | saw
that the love | had cherished was a
sin. His wife was alive. | prayed
that | might have strength enough TO
put Wray out OF my heart strug
gled hard. am trying to show you
my very soul. she cried excitedly. as
God only has seen il until now. |
think | even tried 10 put you in
Wray's place
Gilbert folded his arms.
Well he said again, almost dog
gedly.
Have ! succoe iedg she answered
There lies my doubt, Have snc-
ceedec? am afraid to say SUP
pose MFay were here-suppooe he |
were free, know he IS not free.
and that he is thonsanSs of miles
away Bat If he were. and | had to
choose, should choose yoa--or mimi!
Gilbert clenched his teeth. and drew
q deep breath between them.
That is what prevents me- said
Pauline. How can / place my hand
In yours and promise 10 be your wife
with that doubt haunting me, If
Wray were free should | choose you.
Or would my old love for him reviye2
She seemed 10 Ce appealing to him
FOR aid. implor.ng Elm 10 help her to Z
right decision. But the fact was that
Gilbert found IL impossible 90 dis
criminate with her refinement. In
stead OF an arbitrator, he was a spe-
cial pleader. Though he writhed I'M
der the lash of her self-analysis. her
beauty. enhanced by her somewhat
unwonted emotion. fascinated him.
The dead can't come to life again.
ae said gruffiy
But is IL quite dead? | cannot tell.
feel afraid to trust myself.
If IL were not dead. he urged. /
could you be talking of IL now TO meY'
There is no man whom IL like as
like you she cried. There is no
one respect so highly. believe we
should be happy together. shall
never marry any one else.
Good God he said vehemently.