The Washington herald., 1908-01-29

ne a suitable person for the situation
and your letter at Christmas was just
the same thing"
= knew I had done some clumsy
thing" he said remorsefully, But
/ dearest sweetest heart, you must have
/ known that / love your
lie unioOsened her hands as he spoke
| meaning 10 gather her into his arms,
1 but she placed those two little hands
| in protecting fashion against his heart
mo. Wait" she said. 1T can't be
! true Remember what she was to you
/ II you are the man l imagine you 10
/ be, then you are not one to easily
( forget. You-you can't love me If you
loved her"
He smiled, but he answered her
grevely.
Since you have apparently studied me
and my nature so well. the whole situa-
| ton should be clear TO you. Other people
might doubt, but not you, Katherine.
You were so closely mingled in with that
episode. and you must have realized that
when she took herself out of my life
everything appertaining to her faded alb
sOlutely into the background. The way
had been prepared for this so thoroughly.
You know that evening ! cana down here
that ! was clinging to last hope even
/ though knew how poor it was. I con-
fess, he said, with a faint smile, that
had We separated differently, some senti-
ment might have fingered. 1t was the
way she went that swept my heart clean.
And yet" he added, Il am wrong to
deny her all sentiment. am her friend
am glad 10 be her friend-and I shall
never cease trying 10 help her to the
happiness she Graves for; but ! shall
never succeed No one can help her. It
is her destiny to be a disappointment to
herself, and TO all who have her interest
at heart"
Katherine shivered a little Her hands
had dropped. They were standing apart
now.
And still she holds one. There is a
sort OF spell about her" she said. in a
low voice-'you must recognize that l.
too, have suffered through her. and
yet Then she bit her lip, flushed
crimson and said passionately, II could
never share. Don't think I am only SEN
sible, and practical, and quiet-I-I know
myself better, l am capable of horrid
feelings, and my temper can be quite
savage. I don't want 10 fill a gap.
want all for myself Why. even when
realize what she was to you. feel as if
could suffocate."
She was turning away, but he caught
her by the shoulder and eeled her
round.
DO you know what that n.eans?" he
said in curious voice: that means that
you love me. And do YOU suppose am
60 IL III n
that I know this? Katherine, you shall
not deny me my right, I have stood by
all these months. l even came here to-
day with the intention of saying nothing
more to you on this subject. because /
said to myself I have no right TO force
myself upon her; If she cared toss Of
a button about me she would not play
with me- but the temptation 10 speak
was too strong. and now that you have
confessed that I am indeed so much TO
you, you viii never get rid Of me-"
He was holding her so tightly that he
almost hurt her.
The color waned IN her face, and came
back with a rush as she tried 10 look at
him and could not meet his eyes.
When VIII you marry me?' he asked
She gasped.
"Oh, please" she said, II don't think
/ said anything to-to-but if-sUppose
that I should care for you a little that
does not mean that" she broke off
Really. I cannot marry you" she said
then. with note Of desperation in her
voice.
'HaveTfOTd laughed
Why? Give he one good reason. and
1 viii let you go"
She had 70 laugh too, but she would
not yield easily
She enumerated many reasons
THE children need me. II is so soon.
I have ever so many things 7 want to do
this year" Then finally and a little
weakly, Y don't want 10 marry at ALL
Rupert looked az her intently.
There is not one honest reason I'm all
these, and the last is the weakest Of the
lot" he said coolly Il really cannot
listen TO it, You must think of some
thing else.
Il can hear the children" Katherine
said, in a hurry Listen, don't you
hear them calling for me? 7 am eon-
WINGED they will have forgotten their
coats, and this wind Is so cold"
Ruperts eyes glistened.
Let them come. VIII refer the matter
to Betty, She viii soon settle everything.
Katherine turned crimson. and then she
put out her hand
Perhaps I will marry you, but II must
be ever so far of Wait VIII you waltz"
she asked half wIstfully
He stopped, and despite the fact that
the children were so very near now. he
kissed her hands and then her lips.
You know I will all my life, If YOU
insist" he answered.
But katherine did not keep him wait.
ing quite so long.
THE END.