Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-02-22

out rurned. II told you it was be-
coming a habit with you!" The loud
| beating of her pulses marred her voice.
Must / establish a dead line every
time 1 commit the folly Of being alone
with your
"Pll draw that line" he said, tax
| ing her in MS arms.
II beg you will draw it quickly,
Mr.. Siward."
81 do; it passes through your heart
and Miner
"Is-do you mean a declaration
again? You are compromising your
self, you know. 1 warn you that you
are committing yourself"
$50 are you. Look at mev'
In his arms, her own arms pressed
against his breast, resisting, she raised
her splendid youthful eyes, and
through and through her shot, pulse on
pulse until every nerve scanned to be
aQuiver.
while I'm sttll sane," he said, with
dry catch in his throat, before tell
you that love you look at me-"
II win If you WISH" she said, with q
trembling smile, ''but it is useless"
THAT is what / shall find out In
time. You must meet my eyes. That
is well. That is frank and sweet"
"And useless-truly it is. Please
don't tell me-anything."
"You will not listenT'
There is no chance for you If you
mean love. II tell you in time, you
see. 1 am utterly frtvolous-quite self
ish and mercenary." ,=:.s..
II take my chance"
mo; I give you none. Why do you
interfere? "A girls policy costs her
something if it be worth anything.
Whatever it costs, it is worth it to
me. And I do not love you. In so
short aStime how could III
Then in his arms she fell a-trem-
bling Something blinded her eyes,
and she turned her head sharply, only
to encounter his lips on 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 ga
now. 1t is not best. Oh, truly, truly
it is all wrong with us now" She bent
her head, blinded with tears, swaying,
stunned, then, with breathless sound,
turned in his arms to meet his lips,
her hands contracting in his, and, con
fronting, they paused, suspending the
crisis. young faces close and hearts
af1re.
Sylvia, love you"
IL or
had rendered him his kiss. Then trem-
blingly. "It Is useless even though |
loved you"
-Say itr'
IT do"
Say it!'' ->,-'~s.
IL cannot! And 1t is no use-no
use! / do not know myself-this way.
My eyes-are wet. 1t is not like me;
there is nothing of me in this girl you
hold so closely, so confidently. 1 do
care for you-how can help it? How
could any woman help it? Is not that
enough?' a
Until you are a bride-yes."
"a bride? Stephen, cannot
you cannot help II, Sylvia"
81 must! 1 have my way to CO."
my way lies that way"
"No, no! I cannot do it; it is not
Pest for me-not best for you. 1 do
care for you; you have taught me how
to say it. But-you know what have
done-and mean to do, and must carry
through. Then how can you love girl
like that?"
Dear. l know the woman l love-"
"Silly, she is what her life has made
her-material, passionately selfish, I'M
able to renounce the root of all evil
Even if this-this happiness were ours
always-I mean If this madness could
last our welded life-I am not good
enough, not noble enough, to forget
what might have had and put away.
Is 1t not dreadful to admit? Do you
not know that self contempt is part
of the price? I have no money. I
know what you have. asked. And it
is enough for q man who remains I'M
married. For 1 cannot make things
do;' l cannot 'contrive;' will not cling
to the fringe of things or play that
heartbreaking role Of the shabby ex-
patriated on the continent. My role in
life is to mount to a security too high
for any question as to my dominance.
Can you take me thereT'
There are other heights, Sylvia"
Higher"
Eyes, dear"
"The spiritual know. I could not
breathe there, if / cared to climb. And
have told you what 1 ANAL silk
and lace and smooth skinned selfish
ness" She looked at him wistfully.
eff you can change me, take me-" And
she rose, facing him.
81 do not give you up" he said, with
q savage note hardening his voice, and
! it thrilled her to hear it, and every
drop of blood in her body leaped az
she yielded to his arms again, heavy
Iidded, trembling, confused, under the
piercing sweetness of contact. Then
| her voice broken GREATNESS: