The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1906-08-30

, will be your ruin. Don't interrupt
must say it all at once-I have no
promised. but that's how 1t will end
last night 1 had a letter, home letter
You know we're desperately poor ricf
folk. which is much worse than being
poor outright. Mother has heardxhow
! things are That made her teH me
things l had never guessed--ol
debts. privations. humiliations she has
endured to make me what l am, some
thing to retrieve our fortunes. Mr.
| Fleming has written asking her leave
to court me- She gave it, of course, in
her own dignifed, diplomatic way.
am free to choose. If choose to take
him the choice will meet her approval.
| oh. / know it all by heart
Il 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 minute she sprang up, say
ing. with laugh that was half a
! sob: Come, | want one more walk
down past the doyecot. And while
we walk we won't talk 'or think of
things
Least of all Gordon Fleming" Al
wsn said. taking her hand. But some
how it proved easier to say than to do
it. BY the time they came opposite
the dovecot Fleming's name had been
many times on their lips.
The doveeot was detached cot
tage set thickly about with trees and
howcy.ng shrubs and so stoutly hedged
passel5by 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 a 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 it, 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.
81 heard what you We're saying you
two-I could not help it-there in the
raspberry thicket," she said abruptly;
then, her eyes fast on Lolita's face,
And l had to call you in-because-
because 1 am Gordon Jennings wife
and I couldn't see you, so young, so
fresh, make bitter mistake"
His wifer' Alwyn echoed, with star
ing eyes. why, his wife has been at
the bottom of the sea this long, long
time
so 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 l 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. l never saw
the man l loved until it was all over
with my husband. Gordon is a good
man, but we did not suit. He is I'M
yielding. If you do not bend to him
you must break. And l was impa-
tent and quick spoken and young and
unhappy. He could not understand my
unhappiness when he had given me SO
much. He gave me everything but
liberty to enjoy it in my own way. If
had not left him 1 should have killed
myself That might have been better,
yet l can't be sorry when l look
there"
AS she spoke she waved her hand
toward the sleeper. HE would. have
nothing, nobody, if l had died." she
murmured her voice breaking from its
tense hardness. Il was going away to
escape him. Then at the very last
would never walk again. / went to
him at once. l 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 case Don't, don't" laying a
light and withered hand timidly on
Lolita's arm. ''let anything make you
go against your heart. There areswo-
men made to be bartered. You are not
of them. Believe me, l 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 barred his head. Lolita drew
the wasted face to her breast and held
it there while her tears rained down
upon it. How can 1 thank you for
saving meT' 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