The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-08-17

or T66i this unexpected cali might
portend. Yet to his thought she ap'
peared calm. her manner restrained
Nor could anything be kinder than her
first greeting. the frankly extended
hand. the words expressive Of wei
come
M Wyhkoop informed me 9 rev
minutes ago that you had y last e;
ceiyed your orders for the north she
aid her lips slightly trembling =
wondered 81 yon would leave without
q word Of farewell"
he bowed low. a do not under.
stand how You could doubt forI have
shown my deep interest in you even
from the hrst IfIhaye lately seemed
TO avoid you, It has only been because
i believed you wished 1t so.p
There was an embarrassing pause,
as though neither knew how to SET
through the interview.
mo doubt you are rejoiced to BE-
sent on active service again" she said,
at last
~Yes, both as Q soldier and as :
man. Miss MAZDA. am glad 70 get
into the Geld again With my regiment
10 do my duty under the nag; and !
am equally rejoiced TO have something
occur which viii tend TO divert my
thoughts. / had not intended to say
anything Of this kind, but now that ]
am with you simply cannot restrain
the words. This past month has been,
/ believe, the hardest have ever been
compelled to live through. You sim.
ply mystify me SO that alternately
hope and despair. Your methods are
cruel"
Miner and she gazed at him with
parted lips. Lieut. Brant, what can
you mean? What is 1t l have Gone?"
1T may have been only play to you
and 50 easily forgotten" he went on,
bitterly. But that is a dangerous
game, very certain to hurt some one.
Miss Nadia, your face, your eyes, even
your lips almost continually tell me
one thing; your words another. |
know not which to trust. / never
meet you except to 60 away bafied
and bewildered."
"You wish to know the TRUTH
gay, and for all time! Are you
false or true? Coquette or woman'
Do you simply play with hearts for
idle amusement or is there some true
purpose ruling your actions?n
She looked directly at him, her
hands clasped, her breath almost
sobbtng between the parted lips. At
first she could not speak. "oh, you
hurt me so" she faltered at last. Y
did not suppose you could ever think
that. II did not mean It; oh, truly
/ did not mean Il! You forget how
young / am; how very little ! know
Of the world and It's ways. Perhaps !
have not even realized how deeply Ia
earnest you were, have deceived my.
self into believing you were merely
amusing yourself Nth me. Why, In
deed, should think otherwise?"
Il love you" he said, with simple
honesty. Il seek.you for my wife"
She started attthese frankly spoken
words, her hands partially concealing
her face, her form trembling. "oh |
wish you hadn't said that! 1t is not
because doubt you any longer; not
that ! fail to appreciate all you Offer
me. But 1t is SO hard to appear un-
grateful, to give nothing in return for
so vast a gift"
Then it is true that you do not
love mel"
The blood famed suddenly up into
her face, but there was no lowering of
the eyes, no shrinking back. She was
too honest to play the coward before
him. J.
81 shall not attempt to deceive you"
she said, with a slow impresslveness
instantly carrying conviction. This
has already progressed so far that l
now owe you complete frankness.
Donald Brant, now and always, living
or dead, married or single, wherever
life may take us, shall love you"
Their eyes we're meeting, but she
held up her hand to restrain him from
the one step forward.
mo, no; have confessed the truth;
/ have opened freely to you the great
secret Of my heart. With 1t you must
be content to leave me. There is moth
ing more that l can give you, absolute
ly nothing. can never be your wife;
/ hope, for your sake and mine, that
we never meet again"
Brant stood like a statue, his face
grown white. He did not in the least
doubt her full meaning of renuncia'
ton.
"You will, at least, tell me why'" 1t
was all that would come to his dry
lips,
She sank back upon the sofa as
though the strength had suddenly de-
serted her body, her eyes shaded by
an upllfted hand.
ar ao.,,t taII ynu 7 have mn words.