Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1907-03-27

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promised. but that's how 1t will end.
Last night had letter. home letter.
You know we're desperately poor rich
folk. which Is much worse than being
poor outright. Mother has heard how
things are. That made her tell me
things-things had never guessed-of
debts, privations. humiliations she has
endured to make me what am, some
thing to retrieve our fortunes. Mr..
Fleming has written asking her leave
b court me. She gave 1t. OF course, In
her own dlgnified. diplomatic way. I
am free to choose. Ii choose to take
him the choice will meet her approval.
Oh. know Ii all by heart
Il know by heart you are not going
to do 1t. You can't" Alwyn broke In.
his face gray and lined. Lolita looked
away from him. shaking her head.
But after minute she sprang up say
Ing. with a laugh that was half a
sob: "Come. | want one more walk
down past the dovecot And while
we walk we won't talk or think OF
things"
'Least OF all Gordon Fleming" Al
wyn said. taking her hand. But some
how 1t proved easier to say than to do
1t. BY the time they came opposite
the dovecot Fleming's name had been
many times on their lips.
The dovecot was detached cot
tage set thickly about with trees and
Towering shrubs and so stoutly hedged
passersby got but glimpses of the in
terror. The house was smothered In
vines. and either upon the piazza or I'm
small sunny lawn space upon clear
days there appeared wheel chair with
a helpless man In il and a woman.
slight and frail lowering about him.
Today she was invisible, although the
chair stood in its usual place. Sight
OF 1t, thus desolate, somehow hushed
the pair who walked outside. A feel
ing of something imminent fell upon
them. 1t was hardly a surprise to find
the woman herself standing with the
gate half open or to have her beckon
them inside.
II heard what you were saying-you
two-I could not help it-there in the
raspberry thicket." she said abruptly;
then, her eyes fast on Lolita's face,
"And / had to call you in-because-
because am Gordon Fleming's wife
and l couldn't see you, SO young. so
fresh, make bitter mistake"
Ills wifew Alwyn echoed, with star
ing eyes. why. his wife has been at
the bottom OF the sea this long. long
time"
so he believes; SO he must always
believe" the woman said hushedly,
with backward glance at the Sleep
ing occupant of the chair. Il should
be there II l had gone on that ship, but
l didn't sail; was not strong enough.
Listen. l married without love, and l
did love somebody else, yet that was
not what made the break l never saw
the man | loved until il was all over
with my husband Gordon Is a good
man, but we did not suit. He Is I'M
yielding. If you do not bend to him
you must break. And l was impa-
tient and quick spoken and young and
unhappy. He could not understand my
unhappiness when he had given me so
much. He gave me everything but
liberty to enjoy Ii In my own way. II
l had not left him should have killed
myself. That might have been better.
yet / can't be sorry when / look
there"
AS she spoke she waved her hand
toward the sleeper. He would have
nothing. nobody. If / had died." she
murmured, her voice breaking from its
tense hardness. Il was going away to
escape him. Then at the very last /
heard that he had been so hurt he
would never walk again. / went to
him at once. / have been with him
ever since. The ship went down. 1t
seemed the only kindness. the best re-
turn / could make Gordon, to let him
think | was among the lost. l should
never have spoken TO any one in any
other case. Don't, don't" laying a
light and withered hand timldly on
Lolitas arm, "let anything make you
go against your heart. There are wo-
men made TO be bartered. You are not
of them. Believe me. l am happier
here-nurse drudge, sole stay of a
human wreck-than was or would he
the mistress of millions with dead
heart in my breast"
Alwyn bs>ed his head. Lolita drew
the wasted lace to her breast and held
1t there while her tears rained down
upon II. How can / thank you for
saving me?" She whispered at last.
The woman gently loosed herself
from the girls clasp and pointed to-
ward the gate. Go and forget that
you came in and all things save one"
she said. But remember love Is
enough and only lover