Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1908-02-25
hini.e lnnffered SiWnrd.

II was dreadfully And the morning
after you and / had been imprudent
enough to sit up until nearly daylight
and do what we did made him take a
long walk with me, and told him plain
ly that cared for you. that ! was too
selfish and cowardly to marry you, and |
that If he couldn't endure the news he
was at liberty to terminate the engage
ment without notice"
what did he say !? stammered 81
ward.
81 was informed that he held me
strictly and precisely to my promise;
that he would never release me vo!un-
tarily, though | was. of course, at lib
erty to do what | chose My poor
friend, he cares no more for love than
do II / happen to be the one woman
In New York whom he considers abSo-
luts,ly suitable for him-by race, by
breeding, by virtue of APPEARANCE and
| presence eminently fitted to complete
the material portion Of his fortune and
estate"
| Her voice had hardened as she spoke.
Now 1t rang little at the end. and she
laughed unpleasantly.
1T appears that ! was little truer
to myself than you gave me credit for
"a little truer to you, little less
| treacherous, less shameless, than you
must have thought me. But ! have
gone to my limit of decency, and were
/ ten times more in love with you than
am / could not put away the posi-
| ton and power offered me, but will
not lie for 1t nor betray for it."
She dropped one arm on the back Of
his chair and rested her chin on 1t,
staring at space across his shoulders.
/ THAT'S how it had to be. you see,
when I found that cared for you.
There was nothing to do but to tell
/ him. He trusts me enough to marry
me. He VIII be safe enough as far as
my personal conduct is concerned" she
added naively. 1T seems that ! am
capable Of love. but am incapable of
its degradation
Siward, leaning heavily forward over
his desk, rested his head in both hands,
and she stopped from her perch on the
arm of the chair, pressing her hot
cheeks against his hands--a moment
only; then, slipping to her feet she
curled up in a great armchair by the
FIRE, head tipped back, blue gaze con
centrated on him.
"The thing for you to do" she said
! sis to ambush me some night anC
throw me into hanson and drive III
both to the parsons. I'd hate you fol
1t as much as I'd love you, but IL
make you an interesting WIFE,"
Il may do that yet," he said, lifting
his head from his hands.
you've a year to do 1t In" she oh
served. by the way, you're to take mi
in to dinner, as you did the first night
!, DO you remembers | asked Grace Fer
! rail- then. asked her again today
Heigho! 1t was years ago, wasn't II
that drove up to the station and say
Z a very attractive and perplexed youn
J man looking anxiously about for some
body to take him to Shotover7 Ahem
Z The notorious Mr., Siward! Dear,
: didn't mean toIhurt you! You knoN
: 1t, Silly! Mayn't / have my little jok
about your badness-your redoubtabl
? badness of reputation? There! 70
:, had Just better smile. How dare 20
frighten me by making me think ha
= hurt you? Besides. you are probabl
: unrepentant."
: She watched him closely for m'
ment or two, then. "Are you unrepen
= antT'
about whatT'
. "About your general wickedness-
= about"-she hesitated-"about that gin
for example"
what girl?" he asked coldly.
'"That reminds me that you haH
told me absolutely nothing about her