Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-31

most men, and seemed to nave what thought
was necessary,-fortune and decent position.
No, don interrupt me. We soon found out
that we did not for each other. You
went your way, and l went mine l don
mean to reproach you; for when / saw you
were beginning to be tired OF me did nothing
to keep you. l was tired of it already. But
whatever YOU may have thought, ! a
faithful wife
Mr.. Van Torp had given me a great deal
of money for my charity, and does still.
account for it. l never used penny Of
it for myself, and never shall: and he never
was, and never will be- any more than
trusted friend. / don't know why you chose
to disappear when the man that had your
pocketbook was killed and you were said to
be dead. It's not my business and if you
choose to go on living under another name
now that You are rich again, / shall not be-
tray you, and few people will recognize you,
at least in England, SO long you wear that
beard. But you had it when we were married.
and l knew you at once, and when | heard
that you were to be of the party here, l made
up my mind at once that l would accept the
invitation and come too, and speak to you as
l am speaking now. When I believed you
were dead, l forgave you everything. though
l was glad you were gone. Frankly, l did
not wish you alive again; but since you are,
God forbid that should wish you dead. You
owe me two things in exchange for my forgive
ness; first, yours, if l treated you ungenerously
or unkindly, and. secondly. you ought to take
back every word you ever said to me about
Mr.. Van Torp; for there was not shadow of
truth in what you thought. Will you do
that? ask nothing else
Indeed l will, my dear Maud" said Count
Kralinsky in voice full of emotion.
Lady Maud drew long breath, which trem-
bled as it left her heated lips again. She had
done what she believed most firmly to be
right, and it had not been easy. She had not
been surprised by his patient silence while she
was hers to speak and his to listen.
Thank you" she said now. shall never
60 back to what / have said, and neither of
US need ever allude to old times again during
this trip. 1t will not last long; for / shall
probably 60 home by land from the first port
meet again. If we do, shall behave as if you
were Count Kralinsky whom ! have met
abroad, neither more nor less. ! suppose you
will have conscience enough not to marry.
Perhaps, if l thought another woman's happi-
ness depended on it. ! should consent to di.
vorce you; but you shall never divorce me-.
No power could make me wish to- Kra-
linsky answered, still deeply moved. was
mad in those days, Maud. was beside my
self, between my debts and my entangements
with women not fit to touch your shoes. I've
seen it all since. That is the chief reason why
chose to disappear from society when had
the chance, and become some one else l
swear to you, on my mothers soul in heaven.
you free and begin life over again as another
man! No thought of marrying has ever
crossed my mind. Do you think / could be
as bad as that? But I'm not defending my
self How could /? All the right is on your
side, and all the wrong on mine. And now
/ would give heaven and earth to undo it all
and to come back to you"
Lady Maud drew as far she could into
the corner where the fan house joined the
CINE skylight. She had not expected this:
It was too much repentance; it was too like
real attempt to win her again. He had not
seen her in more than three months. She
knew she was very beautiful. His fleeing
passion had come to life again, as he had. But
her old repulsion for him was ten times stronger
than when they had parted, and she shrank
back as far as she could, without speaking.
From far below the noiseless engines sent
quick beating up to the ironwork of the sky
light. She felt it, but could hardly tell it
from the beatings of her own heart. He saw
her shrinking from him, and was wise.
Don't be afraid of MEL he cried in low
and pleading tone. Not that Oh, please,
not that / will not come nearer; l will not
put out my hand to touch yours, l swear it to
you! But love you as ! never loved you be-
fore. never knew how beautiful you were
till had lost you and now that have found
you again you are a thousand times more
beautiful than in my dreams! No, ] ask
nothing! / have no right to ask for what !
have thrown away! You do not even pity
me, l think. Why should you? You were
free when Won thought me dead. and have