The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1907-04-15

The old pang smote her. and she
fought it back Could she repel 1t
now forever?
Ther was a knock at the door.
Come in she called welcoming
the delay. Conrad rose in anger.
4 maid entered. bearing a letter
which she put in Miss Allisons hand.
then left the room. She looked curl
ously at the address.
"Yon must answer me now" Con
rad exclaimed.
She held the envelope In her slim
tapering fingers. delicately. as II re
ceiving some subtle, sentient impress
sion. VIII you excuse me for mo-
ment while read this letter. she
asked trembling
No, | WON'T he cried, distracted
ly why should you tritie with me
at n time Ike this? If you mean to
refuse me. you might at least do it
quic II and mercifully"
I'm NOT sure what | may do" she
said, softly 1t may be better for
you II you wait, though | don't prom
Use 1t Will | don't recognize this
handwriting at all. but somehow have
feeling that 1t will help me to an.
swer YOU. OF course. though. | may
be mistaken Wish you'd let me try
it. Conrad
He walked to the other end of the
room, and stood, moodily. at the win
dow, looking out. She tore open the
envelope and found two enclosures.
AT the sight of one as it fell upon her
lap. half-opened, her color changed,
and her breath came faster She read
the other one first. however:
My Dear Miss Allison: | am send.
Ing herewith a letter which would
have been sent many months ago, had
| been able TO determine positively
for whom it was intended. 1t was
III by Lieut. IRENE on the night
OF engagement in which he was
XII He was probably compelled
to ia iddenly. before he had time
either l. complete or address the let
ter. ! attended Lieut. IRENE in the
field hospital, and was with him TIL
he died He recovered consciousness
for little while after the operation
but had strength enough only to ask
me to deliver this letter. without be-
ing able to communicate the proper
address. You VIII understand that 1t
was delicate matter to find the per
son for whom ii was meant, as none
OF his friends knew of your engage.
ment TO him 1t was almost a year
before was able to be sure that II
was meant for you. | hope that you
Will forgive the delay and Will believe
me worthy OF his and OF your conf.
dence ~.
MARGARET TABARD."
Miss Allison cast awiSt glance to.
wards the window before she took I'D
the second sheet. Confsd had not
stirred. She held the pSaeiiled paper
to the light - -
MY Dear Dear: have emily . few
minutes, pc. APPS. before We 70 into
. action, and some presenttmsnt, which
by tomorrow will probably prove to
have been nervousness, makes me
want TO write word to you before
won't pull through, this time. The
officers have been picked OF In a
rather nasty way. of late So, In case
anything should happen there's one
thing | want to tell you, II could
only know how to do 1t, In spite of all
that has happened, it may be possible
that you don't quite realize Just how
much | care for you, dear girl 1t may
be more than you think. It's SO much
more than | can realize. No one ever
can want you as much as / want you,
but even more than that / want you
to be happy--in. your own way, not
mine only.
Il don't want my love ever to bind
you or TO come between any two
selves you may find at war with one
another. Your happiness Is all have
to care for in this world; it's your
only rival. If you asked me to kill
you. could do it to make you hap
pier As for my own life that's one
of the least things I'd sacrifice. If IL
would make you happier I'd even live
when dying would be much easier So
| hope your understand me when
say that, il there's ever any other
man who can make you happier than
!, or who can even make you happy
after IN gone, my greatest happiness
will be yours Don't ever try to hold
yourself faithful TO memory for my
sake, Believe me, This comes from
my heart; believe that Il Is, as well
as | can measure it. the height and
the depth of my love for you"
Miss Allison looked up through her
tears to see Conrad watching be-
from across the room. He came over
to her eagerly, his eyes shining and
took both her hands:
She spoke as steadily as she could.
making great effort to master her
self Conrad saw her now, for the
first time, perhaps, struggling openly
with an oVerpowering emotion. She
had come into the light.
Il vas right, she said, this letter
has helped me. and told me what my
answer should be. have known, in
my life. one truly magnanimous man.
You have asked me if there were any
better way that a man could love, and
he has told me There is a better
way. Conrad and | can never accept
anything less than that. for | have
He understood"