Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-09-21

III HIS cApIeSSiOu udue the Slrl uraW back from the invited caress.
 'What is the matter?" she asked.
 I've brought back your property" He tossed crumpled bit of linen into her lap. A large K embroidered show ed conspicuously in one corner.
 My handkerchief! Thanks! Where did you find it?'
 "You ask that? Tell me rather what takes my promised wife to visit Charles Truax.'
 T answer no question put in such a tone."
 Tt is my right to know" The mans eyes took angry measure of her resist ance. "I put the same question this afternoon, and you evaded it. thought when you insisted on your rights and privileges that your little secrets were no concern of mine. What do find? That you have been closeted in the pri- vate office of married man, an old flame of yours. Truax refused an ex- plantation. What have you to say? A woman of leisure, you cannot plead business in factory as an excuse"
 You go too far"-
 "No; it is you! ] love you as my life, and you drive me mad with doubts. Knowing my weakness, you play upon it. I will have the truth, or"-
 Katherine's face, gazing white and passionless in his, arrested him. ''Kathe," he pleaded, T can't stand ii. Right or wrong, you must have no secrets from me. It's torture"- Argument is useless, Kenneth Katherines voice was as cold as her look--"quite useless. If I told you this, there would be something else to- morrow. I am not the woman for you. You are not the man for me-"
 "Did you love me as 1'- began the man passionately.
 "It's not a question of love-" return ed the girl. 'Im not going to allow you to spoil my life with your un. bearable doubts, nor will I sacrifice my individuality on the altar of your jealousy. We have gone through this before, and you beat down my reason by appealing to my affection. Now l choose to be free, to put you out of my life once and for all."
 In the days following Hadley strove to reopen the question, but Katherine would neither answer his appeals in writing nor grant him an interview, so at last silence fell between them. Then the girl tried to take I'D her life where it had been broken into by the coming of Kenneth, tried to rejoice in her re- covered freedom, but as the weeks passed they grew heavier, dragging at her heart like the ball and chain on the convict's foot. She suffered in a manner that she could neither under stand nor have believed possible and grew resentful at the persistent aching and craving that possessed her.
 By night she tossed restlessly, in- somnia her jailor, half choked with a grief to which she would give no out let. She had resented Kenneth's mas terful claim on her and on her pur- suits. Why, then, when this super vision was lifted was she not content? Love she believed subservient to indi- viduality. When one or other must be sacrificed she had had no hesta, tion in her choice. She had made a fetich of ego, to find in the end love had so undermined 1t that she was no longer an entity. sufficient to her. self. Then succeeded days when, half desperate in her unhappiness. she near. ly capitulated; hours when it seemed as though an irresistible force impelled her to Kenneth, but always pride rose forbidding. and she made no sign.
 Kenneth sails Saturday." Mildred told her at last, risking a quarrel, having been forbidden to mention the name. There being nothing to keep him here now," she continued comfort ably, The may never return" She watched with satisfaction the result of this stab. "I've often wondered" she persisted. that you never regretted the break, but it's too late now, Sc it's better as it is."
 Katherine made no response. but that night she wept for the first time, and long bitter sobs washed away every feeling but the love that gave them birth. She realized now that over her love for Kenneth his faults had no control. Human nature is so frail that 1t must love and cling where it can tn spite of weakness.
 Early Saturday. when Hadley was about to board an outbound vessel. a hand, thrust suddenly out of the halt light. caught at his sleeve. He turned at the touch.
 "Katherine!" No thickness of veil could disguise her in his eyes. There they stood. silent. incapable of speech staring at each other. The man re covered first and drew her toward the end of the dock. where great packing cases afforded some seclusion.
 "You should not have come"'
 "I had to. I've been all wrOng-and vranted to toll vou I've baen writ