The Bottineau courant., 1906-11-23


which 1 had got myself. l did not
know what to say. I could hardly
keep out of my face how foolish this
collapse Of my crafty conspiracy made
me feel. And then the full. meaning
of what she was doing came over me
the revelation of her character. I
trusted myself to steal glance at
her; and for the first time I didn't
see the thrilling azure sheen over her
smooth white skin, though all her
beauty was before me, as dazzling as
when it compelled me to resolve to
win her. No; l saw her, herself-the
woman within. had known from the
outset that there was an altar of love
within my temple of passion. think
that was my first real visit to it.
."Anita!" said, unsteadily. "Anita!"
The color famed in her cheeks; We
were silent for long time.
"You-your people owe me moth.
Ing" l at length found voice to say.
''Even if they did, l couldn't and
wouldn't take your money. But, be-
Neve me, they owe me nothing"
"You cannot mislead me-" she an
swered. when they asked me to be-
come engaged to you, they told me
about it."
had forgotten. The whole repul-
sive, rotten business came back to me.
And, changed man that had become
in the last six months, I saw myself
hs I had been. I felt that she was
hooking at me, was reading the de-
grading confession in my telltale
features.
II will tell you the whole TRUTH"
said l. Il did use your fathers and
your brothers debts to me as means
of getting to you. But, before God,
Anita, swear l was honest with you
when l said to you never hoped or
wished to win you in that way!"
Il believe you," she replied, and her
tone and expression made my heart
leap with indescribable JOY.
Love is sometimes most unwise in
his use of the reins he puts on pas
sion. Instead of acting as impulse
commanded, said, clumsily: And
am very different today from what
was last spring." 1t never occurred
to me how she might interpret those
words.
Il know" she replied. She waited
several seconds before adding: II, too,
have changed. I see that I was far
more guilty than you. There is no
excuse for me. 1 was badly brought
%o h,,f-
"No-no," 1 began to protest.
She cut me short with sad: "You
need not be polite and spare my feel
ings. Let's not talk of it. Let us go
back to the object I had in coming
for you to-day"
"You owe me nothing" I repeated.
''Your brother and your father set
tied long ago. lost nothing through
them. And I've learned that if l had
never known you, Roebuck and Lang
don would still have attacked me-"
What my uncle gave me has been
transferred to you," said she, woman
fashion, not hearing what she did not
care to heed. II can't make you ac-
eept it; but there it is, and there it
stays"
Il cannot take it," said L IF you
insist on leaving it in my name,
phall simply return it to your uncle"
II wrote him what had done," she
te1oined. "His answer came yester.
lay. He approves it."
Approves it," I exclaimed.
"You do not know how eccentric he
H." she explained, naturally misun-
aerstanding my astonishment. She
took letter from her bosom and
handed it to me. I read:
Dear Madam: It was yours to do
with as you pleased. If you ever find
yourself in the mood to visit, Gull
House is open to you, provided you
bring no maid. I will not have female
pervants about. Yours truly,
"HOWARD FORESTER"
"You will consent now, will you
hot?" she asked, as lifted my eyes
from this characteristic note.
saw that her peace of mind was
1t stake. "Yes-l consent"
She gave great sigh as at the lay
Ing down of a heavy burden. Thank
Iou," was all she said, but she put a
world Of meaning into the words.
She took the first homeward turning.
We were nearly at the house before
found words that would pave the
way toward expressing my thoughts
my longings and hopes.
you say you have forgiven me- -
Said I. Then we can be- -friends?''
She was silent, and / took her SOM
Dor expression to mean that she
feared was hiding some subtlety.
Il mean just what say, Anita" ]
FASTENED to explain. 'Friends-sim
bly, friends" And my manner fitted
my words.
She looked strangely at me. "You
would be content with that?" she
asked.
I answered what I thought would
please her. Let us make the best Of
pur bad bargain said /. you can
trust me now, don't you think you
ean 2"
n She nodded without speaking; we
we're 1T the door, and the servants
we're Fastening out to receive us
Il u 80 ". -, ,1ay unruanfa hntwonY no