Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1905-09-15
CHAPTER XII.-tContinuedJ

might think that he had been unfairly |
treated if he were not told-and then, |
was his friend don't you see, and they
mentioned the matter to me-and-and
being an outsider l was reluctant to
interfere at irst-but then, when they
spoke of telling you, said to myself
that l knew, or l fancied l knew, what
a girl like Yolande Winterbourne would
be sure to do in such circumstance
and SO l thought 1 would venture the
suggestion to them, and-and if it turn
ed out to be 80, then l might be of some
little help to you"
That was cleverly done; he had not
told her it was the Master of Lynn who
had insisted on that disclosure. And now
she was gathering her courage to her;
though still she maintained a curious
sort of constrained reserve, as though
she were keeping tight hold Of her feel
ings.
II suppose" she said, slowly, "it Is
your idea l should go there-alone|
IF you are not afraid, YOlande, if
you are not afraid" he said anYiously.
81 am going tomorrow" she said, "if
Mrs. Bell will be 50 kind as to come and
take my place."
Don't be so precipitate, Yolande," he
said, with. some anxiety. 81 have put
all this before you for your considera-
ton; and l should feel l was burdened
with a terrible responsibility if you were
to do anything you might afterward re-
gret. Will you consult Mr.. Shortlands?
VIII you take a week to think over it?'
mo; why?" she said, simply. Did
not consider when you were telling me
the story of this imaginary girl? Had
l any doubt? No. l knew what she
would decide. l know what l have de-
cided. What use is there in delay? All,
If there is to be the good come out of it
that you have ina gined for me, should |
not haste? When one is perishfng you
do not think twice if you can hold out
your hand. Do you think that | regret
that | am sorry to have little comfort
behind-that l am afraid to take little
trouble? Surely you do not think that of
me. Why l am anxious to go now is to
see at once what can be done; to know
the worst or the best; to try. And now
i shall not be speaking to my papa
about it; that would only give pain
will you tell me what l should do, in
all the small particulars? l am not like
ly to forget"
That he could do easily; for he had
thought enough over the matter. He
gave her the most minute instructions
guarding against this or that possibility
and she listened mutely and attentively
with scarcely the interruption of ques
tion. Then, at length, he rose to say
good-by; and she rose too. He did not
notice that as she did so her lips quiv
cred for the briefest second.
"If you are going tomorrow, Yo
lande," said he, II will see you as yol
pass. will look out for you. l SHOULD
like to say good-by to you; it may b'
for a long time"
ut may be for always" she said, will
her eyes cast down; perhaps l shal
never be back here again"
"And l am sending you away into al
this trouble and grief. How can | hell
knowing that it is l who am doing it
And perhaps, day after day, and nigh
after night, l shall be trying to justif!
myself-when l am thinking over 1t, anC
wondering where you are; and perhaps
shall not succeed very WELL"
But it is l who justify you-that
enough" she said in a low voice. "Di'
/ not decide for myself? And | know
that in your heart you think l am doinl
right; and if you are afraid for me
we'll that is only kindness-such as tina
you have always shown to me-
Here she stopped; and he did not Sc
that her hands were clenched firm, a
she stood there opposite him, with he
eyes cast down.
"And whatever happens, Yolande-yo
may be in pain and grief-and perhap
all you may endure may only end i
bitter disappointment-well, l hope yo
will not imagine that l came to you wit
my proposal unthinkingly. l hav
thought over it night and day. l di
not come to you off-hand-"
"Ah. them" she said, quickly, "an
YOU think it is necessary to Justify your
self-you, to me, MS if l did not knoy
you as we'll as | know myself! Do 20
think do not know you and do not ur
derstand you-because | am only girl
Her forced composure was breakin
down altogether; she was trembling some
what; and now there were tears runnin
down her cheeks, despite herself; thong
she regarded him bravely, as II sh
would not acknowledge that. "And nov
Just as you and l are about to say goot
by, perhaps forever, you think 1t nece'
sary for you to justify yourself to me
YOU, my best friend-my more tina
friend"
And then-ah, who can tell how sue
things happen, or which is to bear tn
hl,n,oo -bia or,na were rOund her trpu
bling figure, and she was sobbing viz
lently on his breast. And what was tn
wild thing she said in the bewildermer
of her grief. "Oh, why, why was m
life given away before ever saw you
"Yolande," said he, with his face yer
pale, ~ am going to say something; fc
this Is our last meeting. What can
few words matter, my darling, II we al
never to see each other again2 l loy
you. l shall love you while I have lif