Free press., 1907-01-12

those people who don't reach their best in
the early twenties but, oh! it's so horribly
difficult to explain"
you've met some else, perhaps?"
He looked at her with a queer. doubtful
look.
1--WE never had ten minutes serious con-
versation with any girl but you since my
return" he said slowly; "and out there
well, the ladies weren't exactly charming
and they were all black. No it's this way.
I'm nearly thirty nova man, not a boy.
1 want to protect, not to be protected. She
will mother me still, and it doesn't suit
me as it used to do. I find that we've
gone such different ways in ten years. that
we haven't single idea in common, and
the long and short of it is that, though
respect her and all that my love for her
is dead the proverbiaI door nail"
why on earth don't you tell her so?'
''Miss Reynolds think you said your
name was Reynolds? You don't know her.
She's the very soul of honor herself-as
straight as, and far more faithful than,
any man 1 know; and, you see. unfortu-
nately she loves me with every inch of
herself-just as such women do love. If
circumstances were reversed and she'd
ceased to care, she'd have kept her promise
to me whatever it cost her-I know she
would. And I can't, 1 couldn't be such
cur as to spoil her life especially when 1
owe mine-such as it is-to her. I'm more
bothered with conscience than some men,
I suppose, but I'd feel such wretched
ard if 1 wriggled out of it now
But wouldn't it be less cowardly to tell
her the truth? She'll find out for hereslf
in time if you don't, if she's half woman"
81 hope not. 1t shant be my fault if she
does. She doesn't even suspect such a thing,
far almost wish she did. If she'd
tax me straight, I'd have told her the truth
but she's got such implicit and utter conf
dence in me- Do you know when I started
off this morning-it her idea that
should spend our last day of single life in
way and separately-when started
off the sickly temptation came over me to
end it all; you know what I mean. She
would only have thought it one of the many
boating accidents that happen every sum-
mer, and there's no one else to care; and
perhaps she'd have been happier with as
a memory than a reality. But since
met you that's all gone out of my head;
you've been sort of guardian angel, you
see and saved me from myself
Tara did not answer. The tragic humor
of the situation held her spell-bound Sure
ly there was something more than blind
chance in the collision of the morning and
theSbroken claret bottle! She looked curious
ly at the young man who had bent to his
oars again, and an almost tender light came
into her grey eyes. He was so simple and
chivalrous in his ideas, and in her sordid
little world chivalrous men were rare.
I'm afraid I've bored you.'' he said, mis-
constituting her silence. won't you tell me
your history-do?"
81 haven't got any history said Tara,
rejecting; eat least, mines awfu1ly COM
monplace. I just work for my living be-
cause my parents died almost together, and
left nothing for their only child"
Poor little girI!' he said softly, resting
from his work again to look at her. You
want protector if anyone does. God send
you a worthy one! You don't look fit to
fight your own battles"
''Oh, I'm strong enough, as a rule she
answered quickly. She did not feel as if
she could stand pity just at that moment.
'Now, tell me something more about your
self. It doesn't bore me; indeed, tit
interests me very much. Are You quite.
quite certain she cares for you-this
woman?"
"Quite-absoIutely- certain"
''Then perhaps you're right to keep your
word only it all seems SO terribly sad. But