The Irish standard., 1907-10-19

parted lips. Lieut.. Brant, what can
you mean? What is it have done?"
"1t may have been only play to you
and so easily forgotten" he went on.
bitterly. But that is dangerous
game, very certain to hurt some one.
Miss MAZDA. your face, your eyes, even
your lips almost continually tell me
one thing; your words another. I
know not which to trust. I never
meet you except to go away baffled
and bewildered."
You wish to know the TRUTH"
CAY. 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?"
She booked directly at him, her
hands clasped, her breath almost
sobbing between the parted lips. At
first she could not speak. ooh. you
hurt me so," she faltered at last. RI
did not suppose you could ever think
that. IL did not mean it: oh. truly
did not mean it! You forget how
young I am; how very little know
Of the world and its ways. Perhaps
have not even realized how deeply in
earnest you we're, have deceived my
self into believing you were merely
amusing. yourself with me. Why. in.
deed, should think otherwise?"
'"I love you," he said, with simple
honesty. 81 seek you for my wife"
She started at these frankly spoken
words, her hands partially concealing
her face, her form trembling. "Oh,
wish you hadn't said that! It is not
because doubt you any longer; not
that I. fail to appreciate all you offer
me. But it is SO hard to appear I'M
grateful, to give nothing in return for
so vast gift"
"Then it is true that you do not
love me?"
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.
II shall not attempt to deceive you"
she said, with a slow impressiveness
instantly carrying conviction. This
has already progressed 80 far that
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 were meeting, but she
held up her hand to restrain him from
the one step forward. ~.
mo, no; I have confessed the truth;
I 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 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 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?" II
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 uplifted hand.
II cannot tell you. have no words
no courage. You will learn some day
from others, and be thankful that;
loved you we'll enough to resist temp
tation. But the reason cannot come
to you from my lips"
He leaned forward, half kneeling at
her feet, and she permitted him to
clasp her hands within both his own
''Tell me, at least, this-is 1t some one
else? Is it Hampton7"
She. smiled at him through q mist
of tears, smile the sad sweetness Of
which he would never forget I'm the
sense you mean, no. No living man
stands between Us, not even Bob
Hampton"
Does he know why this cannot be 2
"He does. know, but I doubt II he
will ever reveal his knowledge; Ger
tainly not to you. He has not told me
all, even in the hour when he thought
himself dying. am convinced of that
1t is not because he dislikes you
Lieut.. Brant, but because he knew hii
partial 'TeVcdllucuI VI LILO III I'LL WEB
duty he owed US both"
"You leave nae so completely in the
dark" he said; lis there no POSSIBLE
ity that this mysterious obstacle car
ever be removed"
"None. 1t is beyond earthly power
there lies between us the shadow o.
. dead man.
He stared at her as II doubling hel
sanity.
"a dead man! Not Gillis?"
"No, it is not Gillis. I have tolt
you this much so that you might com
prehend how impossible it is for u,
to change our fate. It is irrevocabl,
fixed. Please do not question me an,
more. I cannot bear it,"
Brant rose to his feet and stoot
looking down upon her bowed head
her slender figure shaken by sobs.
MAZDA, as you have asked it. vii
go; but I go better, stronger. because
have heard your lips say you low
me. I am going now, my sweetheart