Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1905-05-12
CHAPTER x11.-(Continued)

was his friend, don't you see, and they
mentioned the matter to me-and-and
Being an outsider, I was reluctant to
interfere at frst-but then, when they
spoke of telling you, l said to myself
that | knew, or | fancied | knew, what
a girl like Yolande Winterbourne would
De sure to do in such circumstances
and so | thought / would venture the
suggestion to them, and-and if it turn
ed out to be so, then / might be of some
sittle help to you"
That was cleverly done; he had not
cold her it was the Master of Lynn who
lad insisted on that disclosure. And now
she was gathering her courage to her;
Enough still she maintained q curious
sort of constrained reserve, as though
she were keeping a tight hold of her feel
sngs.
81 suppose" she said slowly, sit is
yOur idea l should go there-aloneT
"lf you are not afraid, YOlande, if
you are not afraid"' he said, anxiously.
II am going tomorrow" she said, "if
Mrs. Bell will be so kind as to come and
Aake my place"
Don't be so precipitate, Yolande," he
said, with some anxiety. Il have put
all this before you for your considera-
Eion; and l should feel l was burdened
with terrible responsibility if you were
40 do anything you might afterward re-
gret. Will you consult Mr.. Shortlands?
VIII you take a week to think over it?'
"No; why?" she said, simply. did
9 not consider when you were telling me
3he story of this imaginary girl? Had
I any doubt? No. 1 knew what she
would decide. l know what L have de-
eided. What use is there in delay? All,
2f there is to be the good come out of it
hhat you have magined for me, should l
mot haste? When one is perishing, you
do not think twice if you can hold out
your hand. Do you think that regret
that | am sorry to have a little comfort
Dehnd-that | am afraid to take little
trouble? Surely you do not think that OF
ME. Why | 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 | should do, in
all the small particulars? l am not like
Ey 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 a ques-
Sion. 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.
eff you are going tomorrow, Yo-
aande," said he, Il will see you as you
pass l will look out for you. l should
Nike to say good-by to you; it may be
Gor a long time"
''It may be for always" she said, with
her eyes cast down; perhaps l shall
never be back here again"
and l am sending you away into all
this trouble and grief. How can l help
knowing that it is l who am doing it?
And perhaps, day after day, and night
after night, | shall be trying to justify
myself-when l am thinking over it, and
wondering where you are; and perhaps
shall not succeed very well.'
But it is l who justify you-that is
enough" she said in a low voice. did
/ not decide for myself? And l know
shat in your heart you think | am doing
right; and if you are afraid for me
we'll that is only kindness-such as that
you have always shown to me-"
Here she stopped; and he did not see
shat her hands were clenched firm, as
she stood there opposite him, with her
eyes cast down.
"And whatever happens, Yolandc-you
may be in pain and grief-and perhaps
all you may endure may only end in
Bitter dsappointment-well, l hope you
will not ina CINE that | came to you with
my proposal unthinkingly. l have
shought over it night and day. l did
not come to you off-hand-"
"Ah, them" she said, quickly, "and
you think it is necessary to justify your
self-you, to me, as if l did not know
you as we'll as l know myself! Do you
think 90 not know you and do not I'M
derstand you-because l am only a grip
Her forced composure was breaking
down altogether; she was trembling some
what: and now there were tears running
down her cheeks. despite herself though
abe regarded him bravely, as if she
would not acknowledge that. and now.
Just as you and l are about to say good
by, perhaps forever, you think it neces-
sary for you to justify yourself to me
you, my best trlend-my more than
friend"
And then-ah, who can tell how such
$hings happen, or which is to bear the
Blame ?-his arms were round her trem-
Ming figure. and she was sobbing vio-
3ently on his breast And what was this
wild thing she said in the bewilderment
of her grief. "Oh, why, why was my
life given away before l ever saw you?'
~Yolande," said he, with his face very
pale, Il am going to say something; for
shis is our last meeting. What can a
dew words matter, my darling, if we are
neyer to see each other again? | love
you. l shall love you while l have life
Why should l not say it for this once?
j blinded myself; l tried to think it
iendship-friendship. and the world
was just filled with light whenever l saw
L.