Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1906-04-19

her hand. She drew hers quickly
back.
Have l offended your" she asked.
Something in her voice banished all
his self-restraint. Moved by an I'M
comfortable impulse, he reached ou
and drew her 10 him, pressing his
Ups to her cheek, her hair, and her
lips.
defended me?" he cried. Eyes, by
your sweetness, your personality
yourself. / love you, love YOU" For
the moment she lay unresisting in
his arms, yielding herself to his ca
resses, then she pushed him back.
"0h, you must not-you must not"
she cried, struggling in his en-
brace.
He held her only the tighter, laugh
ing like a boy at her struggles.
Ralph, Ralph, let me go. You are
mad. You do not know what you are
saying"
YES" he cried. "Mad-mad with
love for you. Answer me- he
pushed her off from him and held her
| by the shoulders that he might look
into her face. DO you love me?"
She covered her burning face with
her hands.
answer me"
"God help me, yes" she replied,
and sprang from him, dropping white
and trembling into a chair.
His face was radiant as he knelt be-
side her.
"Agnes, do not shrink from me, my
darling. Can't you realize how love
you. 1t has been like living fire in
my heart. | never meant to say it,
/ meant to go away, but now-oh!
You love me, love me, and IL want
nothing but you, want you always
There has never been any woman but
you"
She rested her hand a moment on
his bowed head, and he would have
taken her in his arms again, but she
held him back.
NO" she said, softly, like one talk
ing TO child, you must go away.
1t must not be. You must go away
and forget me-"
"And If / win not?'
"Oh, you must--you must. II not
for my sake, for hers Her words
came thick and fast, as of one in
pain.
"You do not love me-"
''It is because / do love you that /
bid you go back TO her-to your duty.
Now, go, for tonight ] must think,
and whatever comes, always remem-
! Der that l love you and always will.
} Now. go-please."
"My darling, my own" he muir
INJURED, as he gathered her once more
: in his arms, until tomorrow And
J remember, / will not give you mp.
You are -mine-so, until TO-
, morrow" and ran lightly down the
4 steps, the light of great happiness
! on his face.
She watched him go down the street
and then YEARLY mounted the stars
E 10 her room and threw herself on the
+ bed.
ooh, the shame-the shame, she
cried in her agony, "and love MN
! love him ms she never can"
: All through the night this was the
! burden of her cry, and worn and weary
: and looking years older, she called heI
maid as the first light of day appeared
Pack the trunks, Marie, we take
the noon train for long trip.
"Yes, madam"
: Next evening he mounted the steps
. and rang the bell, the light of expect
ancy on his face.
.Madam is not at home. She left
to-day for an extended trip abroad,
T, told the servant.
Like one who had received a blow IN
the face he turned away, his face sud
denly grown old and haggard. He
could not blame her, he understood
her sacrifice. She had gone away thai
she might save the other woman pam
2 He felt her nobleness, and YEARLY
took up his burden of life and worh
again. the never ceasing longing II
E his heart, with only the memory OF al
hour gone TO help him bear
The old disease had come back OF
e his wife and tenderly he watched ane
5 cared for her, she accepting him as h
:, was, perfectly satisfied, never know
5 ing what she had missed.
e Two years later a man in tourist
T earb walked swiftly across a certain
d hotel green and stopped beside a rus
i tic bench beneath Towering vines
T where a woman sat, roses in her hand
!, and hair.
T agnes" was all he said.
n She jumped to her feet with or.
e Of ioy. the roses falling TO the ground
e "she is dead, Agnes. 1t was a yea
r ago
ayes. l heard"
!. He held out his trembling hands e
4 her. and as she came closer with
d wonderful light shining in her eyes
4 he swept her into his arms.
women workers In France.
Official reports Of the French gov
I, .rpment on sociological matters ar