Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1906-10-10

viii be your ruin. Don't interrupt.
must say II all at once-I have not
promised, but that's how 1t will end.
Last night had letter, home letter.
You know were desperately poor rich
folk, which Is much worse than being
poor outright Mother has heard how
things are. That made her tell me
things-thlngs | had never guessed--of
debts, prlvations, humiliations she has
endured to make me what l am, some
thing to retrieve our fortunes. Mr..
Fleming has written asking her leave
10 court me. She gave II, of course, In
her own dignified, diplomatic way.
am free to choose. II choose TO take
him the choice will meet her approval
Oh, know it all by heart
81 know by heart you are not going
TO do it. You can't" Alwyn broke in,
his face gray and lined. Lolita looked
away from him, shaking her head.
But after a minute she sprang up say
ing, with a laugh that was half
sob: "Come, / want one more walk
down past the dovecot. And while
we walk we won't talk or think of
things"
Least of all Gordon Fleming" Al
wyn said, taking her hand. But some
how # proved easier to say than to do
it. BY the time they came opposite
the dovecot Flemlngs name had been
many times on their lips.
The doyecot was detached cot
tage set thickly about with trees and
Towering shrubs and so stoutly hedged
passersby got but glimpses of the in
terror. The house was smothered In
vines, and either upon the piazza or In
small sunny lawn space upon clear
days there appeared wheel chair with
a helpless man in it and a woman,
slight and frail lowering about him.
Today she was Invisible, although the
chair stood In its usual place. Sight
Of IL, thus desolate, somehow hushed
the pair who walked outside. A feel
ing of something imminent fell upon
them. 1t was hardly a surprise to find
the woman herself standing with the
gate half open or to have her beckon
them inside.
Il heard what you were saying-you
two-I could not help it-there in the
raspberry thicket," she said abruptly;
then. her eyes fast on Lolitas face,
"And | had to call you in-because-
because | am Gordon Fleming's wife
and | couldn't see you, so young, so
fresh, make Il bitter mistake
His wife" Alwyn echoed, with star
| TN .
the bottom of the sea this long, long
time"
$50 he believes; so he must always
believe" the woman said hushedly,
with backward glance at the sleep
ing occupant of the chair. Il should
be there if | had gone on that ship, but
didn't sail; was not strong enough.
Listen / married without love, and l
did love somebody else. yet that was
not what made the break. l never saw
the man / loved until it was all over
with my husband. Gordon Is a good
man, but we did not suit. lie Is IN
yielding. If you do not bend TO him
you must break. And l was impa-
tient and quick spoken and young and
unhappy. lie could not understand my
unhappjness when he had given me SO
much. He gave me everything but
liberty to enjoy 1t in my own way. II
| had not left him should have killed
myself That might have been better,
yet can't he sorry when ! look
there"
AS she spoke she waved her hand
toward the sleeper lie would have
nothing. nobody. if | had died" she
murmured. her voice breaking from its
tense hardness. Il was going away TO
escape him. Then at the very last
heard that he had been so hurt he
would never walk again. | went to
him at once. ! have been with him
ever since. The ship went down. 1t
seemed the only kindness, the best re-
turn l could make Gordon, to let him
think | was among the lost. l should
never have spoken TO any one in any
other case. Don't. don't" laying Il
light and withered hand timidly on
Lolita's arm, "let anything make you
go against your heart. There are wo-
men made 10 be bartered. You are not
of them. Believe me, | am happier
here-nurse, drudge, sole stay Of a
human wreck-than was or would be
the mistress of millions with dead
heart in my breast"
Alwyn bed his head. Lolita drew
the wasted lace to her breast and held
it there while her tears rained down
upon il. How can ! thank you for
saving me?' she whispered at last,
The woman gently loosed herself
from the girls clasp and pointed to-
ward the gate. Go and forget that
you came in and all things save one"
she said. But remember love Is
enough and only lover