Evening star., 1909-05-02

II
"Oh, please let me go'' she sobbed. PLEASE
let me go! What have done that you should
treat me so cruelly?"
Cruelty, Helens How should l be cruel to
you whom hold so dear?"
Still he clasped her tightly. hardly knowing
what he did IN his transport OF JOY at the bellef
that she was his.
She struggled to free herself. She shrank
from this physical contact with strange re-
pulsion She felt as timid animal must feel
when some lord of the jungle pulls it down and
drags it to his lair Bower kissing her
cheeks. her forehead, her hair he crushed her in
a close embrace that was almost suffocating.
ooh, please let me gol' she walled You
SHE fought SO wildly that he yielded to dim
that she was in earnest. He relaxed
his grip. With the instinct of a hunted thing.
she took dangerous leap for safety clear
across the swollen Inn. Luckily, she alighted
on broad boulder, sprained ankle would
have been the least penalty for that desperate
means of escape.
As she stood there, with tears streaming
down her face and the crimson brand of angry
terror on her brow, the dreadful knowledge
that he had lost her smote Bower like a rush OF
cold air from newly opened tomb Between
them brawled the tiny torrent. 1t offered no
bar to an active man; but even IN his panic OF
sudden perception he resisted the impulse that
bade him follow.
Helen" he pleaded, stretching forth his
hands in frenzied gesture, why do you cast me
off, swear by all man holds sacred that
mean no wrong! You dear to me as life
itself. All, Helen. say that l may hopei l do
not even ask for your love. l shall win that by
lifetime of devotion"
At last she found utterance. He had alarmed
her greatly: but no woman can feel it an out
rage that man should avow his longing. And
she pitied Bower with great pity. Deep down
IN her heart was suspicion that they might
have been happy together had they met sooner.
She could never have loved him,-she knew
that now beyond cavil,-but if they were mar
for him, while she drifted down the smooth
stream of existence free from either abiding joys
or carklng sorrows
Il am more grieved than can tell that this
should have happened" !" she said striving hard
to restrain the sob in her voice. though it gave
her words the ring of genuine regret. I" / little
dreamed that you thought of me in that way,
Mr. Bower. But / can never marry you,-
never. matter what the circumstances!
Surely you will help me to dispel the memory o.
foolish moment? 1t has been trying to both
of us Let us pretend that it never was"
HAD she struck him with a whip he could not
II have flinched so visibly beneath the lash as
from the patent honesty of her words. For
time he did not answer, and the sudden calm
that came quick on the heels of frenzy had in it
a weird peacefulness.
Neither could ever again forget the noisy rush
thicket overhanging the bank. the tinke of the
cowbells as the cattle began to climb to the
pastures for luxurious hour ere sundown. 1t
was typical of their lives that they should be
divided by the infant Inn. almost at its source,
and that henceforth the barrier should become
ever wider and deeper till it reached the infinite
He seemed to take his defeat well. He was
pale. and his lips twitched with the effort to at
tain composure. He looked at Helen with a
hungry longing that slowly acknowledging
restraint.
must have frightened you, he said break
ing silence that was growing irksome ''Of
course l apologize for that. But cannot
leave things where they If you must send
me away from you l may at least demand
clear understanding. Have no fear that shall
distress you further. May join you. or will
your walk to the bridge a little higher up?"
Let us return to the hotel" she protested.
mo, no We are not children. We have
broken no law of God man. Why should
be ashamed of having asked you to marry me-
or you to listen even though it be such hope
less fantasy as you say"
HELEN. deeply moved in his behalf, walked
to bridge of planks little distance up
stream. Bower joined her there He had de-
liberately resolved to do dastardy thing If
Spenser was the cause of Heen's refusal, that
obstacle, at any rate. could be smashed to a
pulp,