The Irish standard., 1906-07-07

al, Sel tHeTc WIS not tne slightest
tremor of arm or fingers. 1t is posi-
bic that she desired him to observe the
steadiness of her nerves What did
you mean?" he asked
| What did l mean?"-vaguely. Her
thought had been elsewhere.
"By that supposition."
"Oh. mean that my position, had
| married you would have been rather
anomalous to-day" She extended the
other arm. You are in love"
In love?" He looked up quickly.
"Decidcdly; and l had always
doubted your capacity for that senti-
ment"
And pray tell me- with whom am
in love-"
Come, Count. YOU and ] know each
other too we'll to waste time in beating
about the bushes do not blame you
for loving her; only. say. ii must
no, be-"
Must not be?" The counts voice
rose a key.
Yes must not be. You must give
them up-the idea and the girl What!
You, who contrive her fathers dishon-
or, would aspire to the daughters
hand? 1t is not equable. Love her
honorably, or not at all. The course
YOU are following is base and wholly
unworthy of you"
He dropped the arm abruptly and
STROBE across the room stopping by a
window. He did not wish to see her
face at that particular instant. Some
men would have demanded indignant
ly to know how she had learned these
things: not SO the count
There is time to retrieve. Go to
the colonel frankly. pay his debts out
of your own pockets then tell the girl
that You love her Before YOU tell her.
her father will have acquainted her
with his sin and yo,l generosity. She
will marry you out of gratitude"
Karloff spun on his heels. His ex-
preston was wholly new. His eyes
were burning: he stretched and crum-
pied his gloves.
ayes. YOU arc right. you are right! I
have been trying to convince myself
that ! was a machine where the father
was concerned and wholly man in
regard to the girl. You have put ii
before me in bold manner Good
God, yes! find that I am wholly a
man. How smoothly all this would
have gone to the end had she not
crossed my path! ! am base, i, who
have always considered myself an hon.
orablc man. And now II is too lAtc,
too late!"
''roo late? What do you mean? Have
you dared to ask her to be your wife,"
Had karloff held her arm at this mo-
mcnt, he would have comprchrnded
many things.
mo, no! My word has gone forth
to my governments; there is Il wall be
hind INC. and ! can not go back. TO
stop means worse than death. My
property will he contiscatrd and my
name obiteratcd, my body rot slowly
in the frozen north. Oh. know my
country; one does not gain her graf
itude by failure. ! must have those
plans, and nowhere could | obtain
such perfect ones"
Then you will give her up" There
was broken note
The count smiled. To her II was n
smile scarce less than IL snarl.
Give her up? Yes, as IL mother gives
up her child, as Il lioness her cub
She has refused mo. but nevertheless
she shall be my wife. Oh. am we'll
versed in human nature. She loves
her father and ! know what sacrifices
she would make to save his honor
Tonight" Blu, his lips suddenly
closed
We'll. tonight? Why do you no,
go on" Mrs. Chadwick was pale
Her slOved hands were clenchcd. A
spasm OF some sort seemed to bold her
in its Shaking grasp.
Nothing. nothing! In heavens
name, why have YOU stirred me SOP"
he cried
Surprising, after ali, | loved you?"
He rctrated Madam your sup
positions are becoming intOlerable and
impossible"
Nothing is impossible. Surprising
! loved you as violently and passion
atcly as YOU love this girl?"
Madam, hastily and with gentle
ness, do not say anything which may
cause me to blush for you; say moth
Ing you may regret Tomorrow.
81 am woman OF circllmsprctiOn.
My suppositi0ns are merely arguments
alive. DO yOm realize. Count that I
could force you to marry mc?"
KarloR's ast0nislImcnl could not
be "qnalcd. Force me to marry you?"
SIS the thought so distastcfnl. ,hen?"
You are mad tonight"
Not so. In whatever manner you
| have succeeded in this country, your
debt of gratitude is owing to me-
do not recall this fact as a reprOach;
+! ] make the statement TO bear me on in
what I have to submit to your dis
corning intelligence. | doubt If there
Is another woman. here or abroad.
who knows you SO well as |. Your
personal honor is beyond impeach-
ment but Russia is making vast efforts
to Specklc II. She will succeed. Yes,
| could force you 10 marry me. With
a word ] could tumble your house of
cards. am worldly woman and not
| without wit and aIdrpsv nOseeSs