The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-05-15

resolutionl All the obstinacy of her nature--she classed 1t herself as firm hess-rose in revolt. She shook her head angrily. pulled herself together and went on:
 That may bel though it's not what l call myself or what I am usually called. so far as [ know. At any rate ny convictions are honest. and I am sure you will respect them as such. even 1T you do not share them" She dId not see the ready response in his face which she expected. and so hur- ried on.
 Tt has always seemed to me that a --when woman has to speak to a man she should do so as frankly as sh 6 would Ike him to speak to her. and as freely Leonard. I--I" as she halted, sudden Idea. winged with possibili- ties or rescuing procrastination came to her. She went on more easily.
 know you are in trouble about money matters. Why not let me help you7" He sat up and looked at her and said geniaily:
 We'll. Stephen. you are good old sorti No mistake about it. Do you mean to say you would help me to pay my debts. when the governor has re- fused to do so any more7"
 Tt would be great pleasure to me, Leonard. to do anything for your good or pleasure"
 There was a long pause; they both sat looking down at the ground. The womans heart beat loud; she feared that the man must hear 1t. She was consumed with anxiety. and with q desolating wish to be relieved from the strain of saying more. Surely. surely Leonard could not be so blind as not to see the state of thingsl He would surely seize the occasion; throw aside his dlffidence and relieve her! =. His words made a momentary music in her ears as he spoke:
 And is this what you asked me to come here for7'
 The words filled her with a great shame. She felt herself in dilemma. It had been no part of her purpose to allude to his debts. Viewed in the light of what was to follow. 1t would seem to him that she vast trying to foreclose his affection. That could not be allowed to pass; the error must be rectifed. And yeti :. And yet this very error must be cleared up be- fore she could make her full wish ap- parent. She seemed to find herself compelled by memorable, circumstances into an unlooked-for bluntness. In any case she must face the situation. Her pluck did not fail her; 1t was with a very noble and graceful simplicity that she turned to her companion and said:
 Leonard. I did not quite mean that. It would be a pleasure to me to be of that or any other service to you. If I might be so happy! But never meant to allude to your debts Ohl Leonard, can't you understand? If you were my husband-or--or going to be, all such little troubles would fall away from you. But I would not for the world have you think"
 Her very voice failed her. She could not speak what. was in her mind; she turned away, hiding in her hands her face which fairly seemed to burn. This. she thought. was the time for a true lover's opportunity! Oh. if she had been man, and a woman had so ap- pealed. how he would have sprung to her side and taken her in his arms, and in a wild rapture of declared affection have swept away all the pain of her Sh ame!
 But she remained alone. There was no springing to her side; no rapture of declared affection; no obliteration of her shame. She had to bear 1t all alone. There, in the open; under the eyes that she would 'faiD have seen any other phase of her distress. Her heart beat loud and fast; she waited to gain her self-control.
 Leonard Everard had his faults. plenty of them, and he was in truth composed or an aIlalBdm or Tar DdSer metals than Stephen thought him: but he had been born of gentle blood and reared amongst gentIefolk. He did not quite understand the cause or the amount of his companions concern; but he could not but recognize her distress He realized that 1t had followed hard upon her most generous intention to- wards himself. He could not. there fore. do less than try to comfort her. and he began his task in convention al way. but with a blundering awk- wardness which was all manlike. He took her hand and held it in his; this much at any rate he had learned in sitting on stairs or in cohservatorIes after extra dances. He said as tender ly as he could. but with an impatient gesture unseen by her:
 Forgive me. Stephen! I suppose I have said or done something which shouldn't. But I don't know what it is; upon my honor I don't. Anyhow. am truly sorry for it. Cheer up, old so you needn't be distressed"