Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-03-03

Sho loOkod up at him with al , amused little smile. but did not move
 He reached for the hand, and she pu
 1t behind her.
 Take 1t on," he said, harshly.
 He forced her hand out, took on tn,
 ring with It's gleaming stone, none toe
 gently. and laid 1t on the table behind
 him. Then he covered the hand with l. kisses.
 "Now it's my hand. Perhaps there r was little of both those feelings you 5 accuse me of-perhaps did want to , triumph over both you and Shepler-
 and the other people who said you'd
 never marry for anything but money |, but do you think I'd have had either one of those desires if hadn't loved
 you? Do you think I'd have cared how , many Sheplers you married If I hadn't . loved you so, night and day-always turning to you in spite of everything loving you always, under everything
 always, tell you"
 Under what-what 'everything?" When was sure you had no heart that you couldn't care for any man
 except a rich man-that you would
 marry only for money"
 You thought that!"
 "Of course I thought it"
 What has changed you?"
 Nothing I'm going to change 1t
 now by proving differently. I shall
 take you against your will-but shall
 make you love me-in the end. know
 you--you're a woman, in spite of your-
 self" ....-.5
 You were entirely right about me.
 would even have married you because of the money"
 l "Tell me what 1t is you're holding
 back-don't wait"
 "Let me think-don't talk, please!" She sat long time silent, motion
 less, her eyes fixed ahead At length
 she stirred herself to speak. You were right about me, partly and partly wrong. I don't think can
 make you understand. I've always
 wanted so much from life-so much more than it seemed possible to have. The only thing for 8 girl in my posi- ton and circumstances was to make what is called good marriage. wanted what that would bring, too. was torn between the desires-or rather the natural instincts and the trained desires. I had ideals about loving and being loved, and I had the material ideals of my experience in this world out here.
 "I was untrue to each by turns Here-I want to show you something"
 She took up book with closely writ ten pages.
 T came here to-night-I won't con- ceal from you that I thought of you when l came. It was my last time here, and you had gone, supposed. Among other things had out this old e. diary to burn, and I had found this, written on my eighteenth. birthday, when l came out-the fond, romantic secret ideal ol foolish girl-listen:
 The Soul of Love wed the Soul of Truth and their daughter, Joy, was borni who was immortal and in whom <, they lived foreVer!' ...
 You see-that was the sort of moon. shine l started in to live. Two or three times I was grievous disap- pointment to my people, and once or twice, perhaps, I was disappointed myself. I was never quite sure what wanted. But if you think was con- sistently mercenary you are mistaken.
 T shall tell you something more no one knows. There was a man I met while that ideal was still strong and beautiful to me-but after I'd come to see that here, in this fe, It was not easily to be kept. He was older than I. experienced with women "a lover of women, came to under , 'tand in time. was novelty to him, , fresh recreation-he enjoyed all hose romantic ideals of mine. bought then he loved me, and I wor- |, hiped him. He was married b con- , lantly said he was about to leave his |, wife, so she would divorce him. 1 to come to him when it was . one. He had married for money and : le would have been poor again. idn't mind in the least I tell you his to show you that could have f, owed poor man, not only well nough to marry him, but to break h Tith the traditions, and brave the Ii candal of going to him in that com 4 non way. With all I felt for him I |, hould have been more than satisfied. 'ut came in time to see that he was e, ot as earnest as had been. He c Iasn't capable of feeling what felt. le was more cowardly than Tor A ather, I was more reckless than he. b suspected it long time: I became onvineed of it year ago and a little h, yer. He became hateful to me. n, ad wasted my love. Then he became lnny. But-you see-I am not alto n, ether what you believed me. Wait It longer, please. h, Then I gave up almost-and later. s, gave up entirely. And when my a, rother was about to marry that wom- a l, and Mir. Shepler asked me to marry n. i'm. consented. IL seemed an easy ay to end it all. I'd quit fondIing ro eals. And you had told me I must anything could to keep Fred from ., arrying that woman-my people hu me to say the same thing-and - ,-" If be mad married her-if they were arried nou-then you would feel free f, marry mel"
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