The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1908-03-18

VI Co1Hl1y Hat WudL Ill WOuucI'
ing. Yet there might be a bette; way
even than that"
AS she had grown more remote
Conrad became more fervent. 1t was
as IT he fastened after her, to draw
her back as often as she eluded him.
Il must go on" he said excitedly.
I've gone too far, now, not to put you
to the test, even if make the blunder
of my life. I'm risking my whole hap.
piness my whole life, on the throw. l
can't live without you, and / won't.
It's threat, if you LIKE know what
I'm saying. You will have me, won't
you, Aimee?"
There was knock at the door,
Come I'M" she called, welcoming
the delay. Conrad rose in anger
A maid entered. bearing a letter,
which she put in Miss Allison's hand,
than left the room. In an instant
Aimees poise had asserted it's dom.
ination. She looked curiously at the
address.
You must answer me now!" Con.
rad exclaimed.
She held the evelope in her slim,
tapering fingers, delicately, as if re-.
ceiving some subtle, sentient impress
sion. will you excuse me for mo-
ment while l read this letter." she
asked, trembling.
No, l WON'T" he cried, distracted
ly why should you trifle with me
at time like this? If you mean to
refuse me, you might at least do it
quickly and mercifully."
I'm not sure what l may do" she
said, softly. 1T may be better for
you if you watt though l don't prom
Use it will. l don't recognize this
handwriting at all, but somehow I
have a feeling that it will help me to
answer you. or course, though, l
may be mistaken. / wish you'd let
me try it, Conrad
He walked to the other end of the
room and stood, moodily, at the win
dow, looking out. She tore open the
envelope and found two Enclosures
At the sight of one, as it fell upon her
lap, halfopened, her color changed
and her breath came faster. She read
the other one first, however:
my Dear Miss Allison: 1 am sending
you herewith a letter which would have
been sent many months ago, had I been
able to determine positively for whom it
was intended. 1t was written by Lieut.
IRENE on the night of the engagement
in which he was killed. He was prob
ably compelled to fall in suddenly, be-
fore he had time either to complete or
address the letter. 1 attended Lieut..
IRENE in the field hospital, and was with
him till he died. He recovered conscious
ness for little while after the operation.
but had strength enough only to ask me
to deliver this letter. without being able
to communicate the proper address. You
will understand that it was delicate
matter to find the person for whom it
was meant as none of his friends knew
OF your engagement to him. 1t was al
most year before / was able to be sure
that it was meant for you. 1 hope that
you will forgive the delay and will be-
lieve me worthy of his and of your
confidence. MARGARET TABARD."
Miss Allison cast a swift glance
towards the window before she took
UP the second sheet. Conrad had not
stirred. She held the penciled paper
to the light.
minutes, perhaps, before we go into ac-
ton, and some presentiment, which by
tomorrow will probably prove to have
been nervousness, makes me want to
write word to YOU before the fun com
mences. 1t may be that l won't null
through this time. The officers have been
picked off in rather nasty way, of late
So. in case anything should happen.
there's one thing l want to tell you, if 1
could only know how to do it. In spite
of all that has happened it may b., pos
sible that, you don't quite realize Just
how much l care for you, dear girl. 1t
may be more than you think It's so
much more than l can realize. No one
ever can want you as much as I want
you, but even more than that, [ want
You to be happy-in your own way, not
mine only. l don't want my love ever
to bind you or to come between any two
selves you may find at war with one an
other. Your happiness is all l have to
care for in this world; it's your only
rival If you asked me to kill you, I
could do it to make you happier. AS for
my own life, that's one of the least
things I'd sacrifice. II it would make
you happier, I'd even live, when dying
would be much easier. So I hope you'l
understand me when say that, if there's
ever any other man who can make you
happier than !. or can even make you
happy after I'm gone, my greatest hap
piness will be yours. Don't ever try to
my sake! Believe me, this comes from
my heart; believe that it is, as we'll as I
can measure it, the height and the depth
of my love for you.
Wise as you are, and subtle as YOU
are in the mysteries of love, I doubt
II you could ever quite stand this if I
should say it to you, face to face; you
might think I was lacking in strength
and intensity Of desire; but il I should
you'll understand. So I'll not send this
unless I'm pretty badly hurt. There's
about sorrow that
Miss Allison looked up through her
tears to see Conrad watching her
from across the room. He came over
to her eagerly, his eyes shining, and
took both her hands.
She spoke as steadily as she could,
making a great effort to master her.
self. Conrad saw her now, for the
first time, perhaps. struggling openly
with an overpowering emotion. She
lad come into the light.
Il was right" she said, this letter
las helped me, and told me what my
answer should be. l have known, in
ny life, one truly magnanimous man.
You have asked me If there We're any
better way that a man could love, and |
le has told me. There is a better |
way, Conrad, and l can never accept |
less than that, for l hnys
lad the most that a woman car XSvr; |