Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1908-04-03

your question pass. however keehiA IL
touched me. had II not also touched
him. Now | am going Ia say some
things which lie within the straight
aud narrow bounds I spoke of. new
err knew man | cared for as much
as care for Mr. Siward. | know
why too. He Is disinterested. do
not believe he wastes very many
thoughts on me. Perhaps he will.
want him To like me II it's possible.
But one thing you and ! may he sure
Off he does not care to return the
friendship / offer him he will never
accept anything else from me. though
he might give AT my request. and that
Is the sort of Il man he is. and that Is
like him. Miss I.andis 10 you won
der"
She did not reply.
do you wonderf" he repeated
sharply.
NO" she said.
"Then"- He Strengthened up. and
the silent significance of his waiting
attitude was plain enough TO her.
But she shook her head impaticntly,
SAYING: Il don't know whose dance it
is, aud don't care. Please 20 on. 1t
isis pleasant like Mr.. Siward; !
Ike to hear men speak of him as you
do | like You for doing it. IT you
should ever come 10 care for my
friendship that is the best passport to
it-your loyalty to Mr.. Siward."
NO man can truthfully speak other
wise than have spoken" he said
grIveiy
NO. not of these things But You
know w-what isis usually said when
his name comes up among men
DO you mean about his habits he
asked simply.
Yes Is it not an outrage TO drag
in. that sort of thing 1t Anglers me
intensely, Mr. Plank why do they
do IT, Is there single one among
them qualified to cEiticise Mr., Siward:
And besides. it is not true any more.
is it. what was once said OF him with
with some TRUTH Is it,"
The dun red blood mantled Plank
heavy visage The silence grew grim
as he did his slow. laborious thinking.
the while his eyes. eXpressiouless and
almost opaque in the dim light. never
left hers until under the unchanging,
for an instant from her anxious face,
and he saw what he saw
/ lie was no fool What he had come
| TO believe she al last had only con
/ hrmed, And now the question became
/ simple, Was she worth enlightrning
1 And by what title did she demand his
| confidence?
"You ask me II it Is true any more.
| You mean about his habits, If answer
| you. 1t is because cannot be indif-
ferent To what concerns him. But be.
| fore | answer | ask you this, Would
your interest in his fortunes matter to
| himf'
She waited. head bent. then:
81 don't know. Mr. Plank" very low
Did your interest in his fortunes
ever concern hlmY"
Yes. once
lie looked at her sternly, his jaw
sQuaring untl his heavy under lip pro
jectcd within my definition of friend
ship, is he yonr friend"
You mean he
NO: mean you | can answer fol-
him. How is It with you? Do YOU
return what he gives-if there is really
friendship between YOU, or do You take
what he offers, offering nothing in re
turn"
She had turned rather white under
the direct impact of the questions
The Earring repetition of his voice it
self was like the dull echo of distant
blows. Yet it never occurred to her tC
resent it nor his attitude nor his sell
assumed privilege, She did not care
| She no longer cared what he said tC
her or thought about her. nor did she
care that her mask had fallen at last
1t was not what he was saying, bu
| what her own heart repeated so heav
lily that drove the color from her face
Not he but she herself had become the
pitiless attorney for the prosecution
not his voice. but the clamoring con
science within her demanded by wha
right she used the name of Friendship
TO characterize the late relations be
tween her and the man to whom SHE
had denied herself.
Then a bitter Impotence swept hel
and a dawning fear. too. for she hat
set her foot on the fallen mask. ant
the impulse rendered her reckless
why don't you speak, she said
Yes, ! have Il right to know. care
for him rs much as you do. Why don
you answer me? | tell YOU | care fo
him."
DO you?' he said in Il dull voice
Then help me out, if you can, for
don't know what to do. and if | did
haven't the authority of friendship
as my warrant He is in New York
He did go to the country. and mt hi.
home the servants suppose he is still
away, but he isn't He is here alon,
| anu 6i'N vi biS WV SlNklltSS.
saw him, und"-plank rested his hcaC
on his hand dropping his eyes "ant
he didn't know me. IL do not thint
he will remember that he met me o
that | spoke. And | could do nothing
absolutely nothing And don't know
where he H. He will go home aftc
awhile. ] call every day to see-set
what can be done, but if he wer,
there | would not know what to do
When he does go home | won't know
what to say, what to try TO do. Ant
Miss Lands. ! give it because YOU
say you care for him as do. VIII yol