The Lambertville record., 1906-09-05
lin the choice VIII meet her annroval

him the choice viii meet her approvai.
Oh know it all by heart
Il know 10y heart you are not going
10 do it. You can't" Alwyn broke in,
his face gray and lined Lolita looked
away from him, shaking her head.
But after II minute she sprang up say
ing with laugh that was half
sob: "Gome. | want one more walk
down past the doNecot. 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 1t proved easier 10 say than 10 do
ii. BY the time they came opposite
the doveeot Fleming's name had been
many times on their lips.
The dovecot was detached cot
tagc set thickly about with trees and
towering shrubs and SO stoutly hedeed
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 II wheel chair with
helpless man in 1t and woman.
slight and frall, lowering about him.
Today she was invisible. although the
chair stood In its usual place, Sight
of it. thus desolate. somehow hushed
the pair who walked outside 4 feel
ing of something imminent fell upon
them. 1t was hardly Il surprise TO find
the woman herself standing With tho
gate half open or TO have her beckon
them inside
Il heard what you We're Saylng-you
twoI could not help it-there In tho
raspberry thlcket." she said abruptly
then, her eyes fast on Lolita's face,
And had to call you n-because-
because | am Gordon Elemlng's wife
and couldn't see you, SO young, so
fresh, make n bitter mistake
Ills wife" Alwyn echoed, with star
ing eyes. why, his wife has been at
the bottom of the sea this long. long
time
$50 he believes. SO he must always
believe the woman said hushedly,
with II 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 ]
did love somebody else. yet that was
not what made the break. never saw
the man | loved until It was all over
with my husband Gordon Is good
man. but we did not suit He Is I'M
yielding. If you do not bend TO him
you must break. And | was impa-
tient and quick spoken and young and
unhappy. He could not understand my
unhappincss when he had given me SO
much He gave me everything but
liberty to enjoy IL in my own way. II
had not LEFT him should have killed
myself That might have been better,
yet | cant he sorry when | look
there
As she spoke she waved her hand
toward The sleeper He would have
nothing. nobody. If | had died" she
murmured, her voice breaking from It's
tense hardness Il was going away to
escape him. Then ut the very last |
heard that he had been hurt ho
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 | could make Gordon. to let him
think | was among the lost. | should
never have spoken to any one In any
other ease Don't. don't" laying u
light and withcred hand tnidly on
Lolita's arm, "let anything make you
go against your heart There are wo-
men made 10 he barlered. You are not
of them. Believe me, | am happier
here e-nurse, drudge, sole stay Of II
human wreck than was or would be
the mistress of millions with n dead
heart in my breast
AlwNn barred his head. Lolita drew
the wasted face to her breast and held
ii there while her tears rained down
upon H. "IIow can | thank you for
saving mef' She whispered ut last.
The woman gently loosed herself
from the girls clasp and pointed to-
ward the gate. "t;o and forget that
you came in and all things save one,
she said. But remember love Is
enough and only love-"