Middletown transcript., 1906-05-12

with you, said Miss Frayne. Il
/ marry you it will be frankly
for your position and for your
money. Every one viii accuse
me of it, and | might as well
acknowledge st to you, as | have
to.pyself. She leaned over the
rail of the veranda, her eyes fol,
loving the wake of the moonlight
upon the water.
You've said that before-too
many times, said the man at her
side. But / can't believe it. Ii
it we're true, you would never say
it There is something else.
There must be something else.
There is nothing else. she said,
unless it is that | am tired. ]
want to feel settled and at rest
emotionally. I don't want to
think-in that way-any more,
If I married you, it would be
wrong to you, and | wouldn't do
it. I should begin all over again
new. And then
That's a very different thing,
he replied. You've played fair
ly. I knew when you first an
sWered me that you didn't love
me, but / can't bear to have you
speak of your motives in that
cold -blooded way. 1t isn't quite
fair to you.
/ want to put it as brutally as
| can, she insisted. I want you
to know the worst that is in me,
SO that you can never reproach
me.
Bertha! he cried, wincing at
the suggestion.
Oh, yes, ! know you think you
would never do that, but-l know
that one changes in time, and
that perhaps after while, when
you had got used to my being
near you, and hadn't made me
care in the way that you hope to,
then you might forget what | had
said, and think that you had been
cheated. / want the bargain well
understood. You don't seem to
believe that | have no heart left.
l don't want you to cherish any
false hopes.
She moved her head so that
she could look out over the vague
wide waters of the bay. Her
ewes we're strained, her features
motionless. The faint lap, lap of
the little waves on the shore
seemed to annoy her.
You said you were sure we
could always be friends, at least,
he broke in, half pleadingly, half
in argument.
Oh, yes, of course. You'll not
bore me. I suppose shall even
grow fond of you. You have
tact and patience and sympathy.
She spoke listlessly, and these
faint compliments had some of
the quality of contempt. Then
she rose, and said, Please move
my chair around. l can't bear
the sight of that water.
The Honorable Charles Brax,
ton rearranged her chair. changed
his own position, and went on
with his customary persistent
patience. l have told J on that |
want you more than I ever want
ed anything, Bertha, and the
more see of you, the stronger
that need grows. I want you so
much that | must have you. I'm
willing to take all the chances,
if you are. | think l can make
you love me. It's a trite enough
thing to say, but I'm so sure of
myself and so much in earnest
that I can't bear to have you ac-
cuse yourself so and insist upon
your lack of any feeling.
It's not an accusation, it is the
statement of a fact. ] am max
ing deliberate compromise.
couldn't have what | most want
ed, and I'm taking half loaf.
This isn't fiattering to you, but | !
can't helplt. can give you only |
my bare acceptance. If you
want me that much. l am yours.
1 know so well what the real thing
is. I had touched it, and felt it,
and known the life and the joy |
of it for one little while, and then
the big house of JOY tumbled, and
I was left out in the darkness,
After that you came. I told you
I didn't care, that I never could |
but you will never believe me.
Now I'm simply tired of resist
ing you, and I'm at halt, ready |
to be captured without much
fight. There's no hope of rein
forcements. Ny romance is quite