The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1907-08-28

wondered If you would leave without
a word of farewell"
He bowed low. 81 do not under
stand how you could doubt, for I have
shown my deep interest in you even
from h first. If / nav lately seemed
to avoid you, it has only been because
/ believed you wished it SO"
There was an embarrassing pause,
as though neither knew how to get
through the interview.
mo doubt you are rejoiced to BIO
sent on active service again." b said,
at last.
yes, both as a soldier and as q
man, Miss Nadia. I am glad to get
into the field again with my regiment,
to do my duty under the flag, and I
am equally rejoiced to have something
occur which will tend to Divert my
thoughts. / had not intended to say
anything of this kind, but now that I
am with you 1 simply canno restrain
the words. This past month has been.
1 believe, the hardest 1 nave eve been
compelled to live through. You SIM
ply mystify me 80 that 1 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 it 1 have done?"
1T may have been only play to you
and 80 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. I
know not which to trust. 1 never
meet you except to go away baf1ed
b~ewildered."
You wish to know the truth"
"Ay, 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 looked directly at him, her
hands clasped, her breath almost
sobbing between the parted lips. At
hurt me So" she faltered at last. 81
did not suppose o could ever thiRk
that. IL did not mean It; oh, truly
I did not mean It'll You forget how
young 1 am; how very little I know
of the world and its way Perhaps I
have not even realized how deeply in
earnest you were, have deceived my
self into believing you were merely
amusing yourself with me. Why, In
deed, should 1 think otherwise?"
81 love you." he said, with simple
honesty. 81 eek you for my wife"
She started at these frankly spoken
words, her hands partially ~concealing
her face, her form trembling. ooh, I
wish you hadn't said thatI It In not
because I doubt you any longer; not
that 1 fail to appreciate an you offer
nae. But it 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 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.
It shall not attempt to deceive you"
she said, with q slow impressiveness
instantly carrying conviction. This
has already progressed &c far that /
now owe you complete frankness.
Donald Brant, now and always. living
or dead, married or single, wherever
life may take US, I shall owe you"
Their eyes were meeting, but she
held up her hand to restrain him from
the one step forward.
mo, no; 1 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 / al give you absolute
ly nothing. I can never be your wife;
I hope, for your sake and mine, that
we never again."
Brant stood like q statue, his face
grown white. He did not In tho least
doubt her full meaning of rsnuncia-
ton.
you will, ut least, tell me why?" Il
was all that would come to his dry
lips.
She sank back upon the sofa a.
though the strength had suddenly de-
serted her body. her eyes shaded by
an uplifted hand.
II cannot tell you. I have nj words.
NO courage. Toy win learn some day
from others. and be thankful that I
loved you well enough to resist temp
| tation- But the las 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 it some one
else? Is Il Hampton?"
She smiled at him through q mist
OF tears. a smile the sad sweetness Of
which he would never forget In the
ems you mean. no. No living man
stands between us, not even Bob
Hampton"
Does he know why this cannot be7@
He does know, but 1 doubt II he
win ever reveal his knowledge; GER
tainly not to you- He has not told mo
AL. even In the hour when he thought
himself dying. I am convinced Of that
It is not because he dislikes yoa.