Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-02-29

hCdA LIZ Idm1lY DOCTOR.
Sealing and directing the letter. he
looked up to see Sylvia standing at his
elbow. She dropped a light hand on
his shoulder for a second, barely
touching nina fugitive caress. deli
cate as the smile lowering on her lips,
as the shy tenderness in her eyes.
More letters to your sweetheart?' '
che asked, abandoning her hand to
him.
Zone more, the last before l see her.
| wish you could see her, Sylvia"
II wish so, too" she answered SIM
ply, seating herself on the arm of his
chair as though it were a sidesaddle.
Would she care for me, do you
think?" asked the girl in q low voice.
Il think so, for your real SELF"
Il know. She could only feel con-
tempt for me as am"
"She is old fashioned" he said rev.
erently.
THAT means all that is best in a wo-
mantle old fashion Of truth and
faith, the old fashion of honor and
faith in honor, the old, old fashion of
love. All that is best, Stephen; all that
is worth the love of a man. Some day
somebody will revive those fashions"
Twill you"
Dear, they would not become me-"
she said, the tenderness in her ewes
deepening little, and she touched his
head lightly in humorous caress.
What shall we do with the waning
daylight" she asked. cit is my last
day with you. / told Howard il was
my last day with you and | did not
care to be disturbed"
You. probably didn't say it that
way" he commented, amused
81 did"
"How much of that sort of thing is
he prepared to stand?" asked Siward
curiously.
How much? / don't know. | don't
believe he cares. 1t is my uncle, Ma
jOr Belwether, who is making things
unpleasant for me. l had to tell How
ard, you know"
WHAT exclaimed Siward incredu-
lousy.
Certainly. Do you think my con-
duct has passed without protest?'
You told Quarrierr he repeated.
did you imagine / could do other
wise? she asked coolly. Il have that
much decency left. Certainly ! told
him. Do you suppose that after what
we did, what / admitted to you, that
l could meet him as usual? Do you
think am afraid of him?'
81 thought you were afraid OF losing
him." muttered Siward
81 was dreadfully. And the morning
after you and l had been imprudent
enough to sit up until nearly daylight
and do what we did made him take
long walk with me, and told him plain
ly that cared for you, that l was too
selfish and cowardly to marry you, and
that if he couldn't endure the news he
was at liberty to terminate the engage
ment without notice"
what did he sayY' stammered ST.
ward.
81 was informed that he held me
strictly and precisely to my promise;
that he would never release me vOlun-
tarily, though l was, of course, at lib
erty to do what l chose. My poor
friend, he cares no more for love than
do L! 1 happen to be the one woman
in New York whom he considers abso-
lutely suitable for him-by race, by
breeding, by virtue of appearance and
presence eminently fitted to complete
the material portion OF his fortune and
estate"
Her voice had hardened as she spoke.
Now it rang a little at the end, and she
laughed unplU sanity.
cit appears that l was little truer
to myself than you gave me credit for
"a little truer to you, little less
treacherous, less shameless, than you
must have thought me. But / have
gone 20 my limit Of decency, and were
/ ten times more in love with you than
1 am 1 could not put away the posi-
ton and power offered me, but will
not lie for it nor betray for it"
She dropped one arm on the back OF
his chair and rested her chin on 1t,
staring at space across his shoulders.
That's how it had to be, you see,
when l found that 1 cared for you.
There was nothing to do but to tell
him. He trusts me enough to marry
me. He will be safe enough as far as
my personal conduct is concerned" she
added naively. cit seems that / am
capable of love, but I am incapable Of
it's degradation"
Siward, leaning heavily forward over
his desk, rested his head in both hands,
and she stopped from her perch on the
arm of the chair, pressing her hot
cheeks against his hands--a moment
only; then, slipping to her feet, she
curled up in a great armchair by the
fire, head tipped back, blue gaze con-
centrated on him.
'The thing for you to do" she said,
'is to ambush me some night and
throw me into a hanson and drive US
both to the parsons. I'd hate you for
it as much as I'd love you, but I'd
make you an interesting wife,"
al may do that yet" he said, lifting