Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1908-05-22

"lAas IL what aaa'i ltud eit II
time. YOU lnGst ihes, by uyeb. Thas
Is we'll. That Is fraiK and sweet"
"And uselessztruiy it Is. Please
don't tell me--anything"
"You will not listen?"
'sThere is no chance for you II you
mean love. II tell you In time, you
see. am utterly frivolous-quite self.
ish and mercenary."
81 take my chance"
"No; give you none. Why do you
interfere? "A girls policy costs hel
something If 1t be worth anything
Whatever 1t costs, 1t is worth 1t to
me. And do not love you. In SC
short time how could II"
Then in his arms she fell a-trem
bling. Something blinded her eyes
and she turned her head sharply, only
to encounter his lips Oh hers in deep
clinging embrace that left her dazed
still resisting with the fragments Of
breath and voice.
mot again--I beg-you. Let me e
now 1t is not best. Oh, truly. truly
it is all wrong with us now" She benz
her head, blinded with tears, swaying
stunned, then, with a GREATNESS sound
turned in his arms to meet his lips
her hands contracting in his, and, con
fronting, they paused, suspending thu
crisis. young faces close and hearts
afre
Sylvia, l love you"
For an instant their lips chung. Sh'
had rendered him his kiss. Then trem
blirgly, 1T Is useless even though
loved you"
"Say it"
81 do"
"Say it,"
T-I cannot! And It IS no use-nt
use. do not know myself-this way
MY eyes-are wet. 1t is not like me
there is nothing of me in this girl yo'
hold so closely, so confidently. d.
care for you-how can help it? How
could any woman help it? Is not tina
enough? ?"
"Until you are a bride-yes."
"a bride? Stephen, cannot
"You cannot help 1t. Sylvia"
81 must! | have my way to CO."
"AIy way lies that way"
"No, no. | cannot do it; 1t Is no
best for me-not best for you. l d.
care for you; you have taught me how
20 say it. But-you know what hav'
| done-and mean to do, and must carr.
| through. Then how can you love a cir
like that"
"Dear, ! know the woman | love"
"Silly, she is what her life has mad
her-materlal, passionately selfish. un
able to renounce the root of all evil
Even If this-this happiness were our
always-I mean if this madness coult
last our welded life-I am not Soot
enough. not noble enough, to forge
what | might have had and put away
Is It not dreadful to admit? DO yo'
not know that self contempt Is par
| of the price? | have no money.
know what you have. asked. And !
Is enough for a man who remains un
married. For I cannot make thing
Go:' cannot 'contrive::' will not clin!
to, the fringe of things or play tina
heartbreaking role of the shabby ex
patriated on the continent. My role II
life Is to mount to security too higl
| for any question as to my dominance
Can you take me thereT
"There are other heights, Sylvia"
| "Higher?
eyes. dear"
"The spiritual; I know. could no
breathe there, IL cared to climb. Ant
have told you what | ANAL Sill
| and lace and smooth skinned selfish
ness" She looked at him wistfully
"If yoti can change me, take me-" Ant
she rose, facing him.
81 do not give you up" he said, wit
a savage note hardening his voice, ant
1t thrilled her to hear 1T, and ever.
drop of blood in her body leaped a
she yielded to his arms again, heav,
lidded, trembling, confused, under tn
piercing sweetness of contact. Ihel
her voice, broken, breathless;
"Good night. Love me while yo'
can and forgive me. Good nigh'
Where are we? All-all this mus
have stunned me, blinded me. Is thl
my door or yours? Hush! | am hal
dead with fear-to be here under tn
light again. If you take nae again, M
knees will give way. And l must nm
my door. Oh, the CHASTITY imprudenc
of it! Good night, good night, /