Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-03-25

Mrs. Vendennino.
strung. 81 cannot-I simply cannot!
How can you love me and listen TO
such wickedness? How can you still
care for such a girl as ! am-worse
than mercenary because have heart
or had until you took itf Keep IT..
1t Is the only part of me not all ig-
noble"
81 will keep it-in trust" he said.
until you give yourself with It,"
But she only shook her head YEARLY.
withdrawing her hands from his, and
for time they sat silent. eyes apart.
Then-"There is another reason" she
said wistfully.
He looked at her, hesitated, and
my habits?" he asked simply.
Eyes"
81 have them in check"
"Are you certainT
81 think I may be-now."
yet" she said timidly. you lost one
fight-since you knew me-"
The dull red mantling his face wrung
her heart. She turned impulsively and
laid both hands on his shoulders.
THAT chance would take. with all Its
uncertainty. all the dread inheritance
you have come into. love you enough
for that. And II II turned out that
that you could not stem the tide even
with me 10 face II with you. and IL the
pity of it, the grief OF II. killed me
would take that chance II you loved
me through II all. But there is some
thing else. Hush. Let me have my
say while I find the words-something
else you do not understand. Turn your
face n little Please don't look at me.
This is what you do not know-that In
three generations every woman of my
race has-gone wrong! Every onel
And / am beginning with such a mar
riage. deliberately. selfishly. shameless
ly. perfectly conscious of the frivolous.
erratic blood In me. aware OF the race
record behind me,
"Once when / knew nothing-before
IL met you--I believed such mar
riage would not only permit me men
tai tranquility. but safely anchor me
I'm the harbor of convention. leaving me
free 10 become what am fashioned ia
become autocrat and arbiter IN my
own world And nowl And nOwi
| may become. Your love forces my
hand. | am displaying all the shallow
ness. falseness, pettiness. all the mean
and cruel and callous character which
must be truly my real self Only
shall not marry you! You are not TO
run the risk OF what might prove to
be when ] remember in bitterness all
| have renounced. If married you,
l should remember, Inreconciled, what
you cost me. Better for you and for
me that marry him and let him bear
with me when remember that he cost
me you"
Suddenly deep within him something
seemed to fail. die out. perhaps a tiny
newly lighted flame of unaccustomed
purity. the dawning flicker of aspira.
ton to better things. Whatever II was
material. spiritual, was gone now, and
where Ii had glimmered for night
the old accustomed twilit doubt crept
iu-llt cUlIt uui dNQultoNChNtt the
same uncertainty OF self, the familiar
lack OF will. of incentive. the congenial
tendency to drift, and with 1t came
WEAKNESS, perhaps reaction from the
recent skirmishes with that master
vice.
Il suppose" he said in a duh voice
you are right"
mo; | am wrong-wrong" she said
lifting her lovely face and heavy eyes
"But have chosen my path. And you
Will forget"
81 hope So" he said simply
IF you hope so. you will"
Mortimer, peeplng down at them
over the thlcket above. yawned impa-
tlently and glanced about him for the
most convenient avenue of self eiface
ment when the time arrived.
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