The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1907-10-24
VIM. F. McDcvitt,
Dorset and South Dorset, Vermont


gayly on the stool, with extended
hands.
Come and kiss me, which ce,emony
you omitted whom va last met"
As ha crossed toward her something
In his expression made the girl draw
back from the Invited caress
What IL the matterf" she asked.
"Tye brought back your property
He tossed crumpled bit OF linen lnts
her lap. A large X embroidered show
ed conspicuously In one corner
"My handkerchief! Thapksl Whers
did you lind itY'
"You ask that's Tell me rather what
takes my promised wife TO visit
Charles Truax."
81 answer no question put In such a |
tone"
"lt Is my right 10 know" The mans
eyes took angry measure Of her resist.
ance, Il put tho same question this
afternoon, and you eyaded 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 eloseted In the pri |
vate office of married man, an old |
flame Of yours. Truax refused an ex.
planation. What have you to sayf A
woman OF leisure, you cannot plead
business In n factory as an excuse"
"You so too far
''No; It IN you! love you as my
life, and you drive me mad with
doubts. Knowing my weakness, you
play upon II. will have the truth,
or
Katherine's face, gazing white and
passlonless In his. arrested him
"Kathe,' he pleaded, Il cant stand II
Right or wrong, you must have n,
secrets from me. It's torture"--
Argument Is useless, Kenneth
Kntherine's voice was as cold as hel
look-"quite useless. II told yol
this, there would be something else TO
morrow. ] am not the woman fol
you. You nre not the man for me-"
did you love me as r. began ths
pubHtohuttiys |
ITS not question Of love-" return
ed the girl. I'm not going to allow
you to spoll my life with your un
bearnble doubts, nor will ! 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
choose to he free, TO put you out Of my
life once and for all"
In the days following Hadiey strove
to reopen the question, but Katherine
would neither answer his appeals IN
writing nor grant him an interview, no
at last silence fell between them. Then
the girl tried to take up 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 convlct's foot. She suffered In q
maprer that she could neither under.
stnLd nor have believed possible and
grew rcsentful at the persistent aching
and craving that possessed her.
BY night she tossed restlessly, In
somnla her Jallor, half choked with
grief 10 which she would give no out.
let She had resented Kenneth's mas.
terful claim % her and on her pur-
suits WIZ. then. when this super
vision was lifted was she not contenti
Love she believed subseryleDt 10 indi-
When oac or other must
be sacrificed She had had no hcslta.
lion In her choice She had made
fetch OF ego, 10 fDd In the end love
had so undermined II That she was
10 longer an entity. sufficient 10 her.
,elf. Then succeeded days when, bali
desperate in her unhapplness. she near.
> capilulated; hours when II seemed
~ though an Irresistible force impcllcd
icr 10 Kenneth. but always pride rose
and she made no Sign
Kenneth sails Saturday" Mildred
old her al last, riskIns quarrel.
laving been forbidden 10 mention the
lame. There being nothing 10 keep
lin here now" she continued comfort.
IDLY, "he may never return" She
watched with satisfaction the result or
his stab. 1--WE often wondered. rhc
persisted. that you never regretted
he break, but It's too late now. 80
t's better ms II IS"
Katherine made no response. but
Int night she wept for the FIRST time
md long bitter sobs washed away
very feeling but the love that gave
hem birth. She realized now that over
ler love for Kenneth his faults had
10 control Human nature is NO fraii
hat II must love aud cling wbe.e IL 7
an In spiie Of weakness. Il
i'arlg fatnrlay whc1 TIadiey was |,
boHt q board mn outbound vessel n
and. thrust suddenly ort Of the hait n
lght. caught nj his sleeve. lie turned 4
4 the touch.