The Batesburg advocate. [volume] (Batesburg, S.C.) 1901-1911, 1909-03-05
earth could have made any difference.
How can | tell!' she faltered.

earth could have made any difference.
How can | telll' she faltered
But, Pauline
was not permitted to judge she
insisted, more strenuously.
Do you suggest you would have de.
cided differently he asked.
AT the very moment she contin.
ued, that l was telling YOU of INV
doubts, my mother knew that Wray
was free-that he was coming to me.
1t was shameful not to tell me-.
No doubt Mrs. Gathcart thought
oh, il was shameful Pauline
claimed. i was deliberately entrap-
ped
Gilbert took a quick pace forward
Not by me, he said.
'lt does not matter by whomi'
oh, it matters very much indeed
Gilbert retorted.
There is the fact she said. They
wanted me 70 marry you. They kept
me in ignorance. They deceived me-
Then. if YOU had known
Nothing should have induced me to
commit myself
To commit yourselfi Gilbert cried
with start.
1 would not have decided shc n
,ye what ,Cu told
m. h WA raoue WAS uothire DO
Al Pony, YOU could non
Tne was me
. >u,,lu nave uorne anvtI,ino
but this hateful deception. When
realize it, my head seems on fire And
when ] think of Wray, l feel utter
ly'
Do YOU think of me at ALP said
Gilbert rather curtly.
1t was unfair to you as WELL Paul.
inc admitted. But imagine what
Wray's feelings must have been. He
came to this house expecting to find
me free
Upon my SOUL cried Gilbert. L
don't want to discuss the fellow. Then
he added, warmly, You regret you
were not free!
Bitterly
Pauline, he said, do YOU realize
what You are saying?
Oh, don't misunderstand me- she
retorted i am not blaming you
Blaming me! Good Lord! lie sx
claimed
If YOU knew don't think YOU
could blame me- she continued 4
told you-I warned you-I said I
couldn't trust myself. Every doubt
that tormented me then is alive now
I only claimed the right to choose
You chose =
In ignorance she said
Let me ask you again. he cried:
and for Gods sake, realize what Won
are going to say. Do you wish you
were free, Paulineo'
She seemed to hesitate.
I want 10 tell YOU the truth she
faltercd.
I want to hear It. Yes or no. Do
you wish for freedom?'
One word will not suffice. I want
You TO understand
oh, think there is little fear about
that he retorted, standing before her.
almost threatingly Which is it TO
he Yes or Mop
'Then-yes, said Pauline.
He threw out his arms and let them
drop Imply at his side again.
You are free from me- he answer.
ed. Do you imagine am the man to
attempt to force you?'
But
In short, YOU have made a mis-
take he said
feel Just that doubt. she confes.
sed If only they had treated me
frankly what a world of misery II
would have savedn
Well, it isn't too late he muttered.
and he began to button his coat.
She leaned back silent on the sofa.
her eyes fixed on his face
- You see,' she said. almost as ~
by way of excuse, how cruelty served
have been
Not you alone
'Ah, it must have been terrible for
Wray,' Pauline cried And IL was
maddening to think of sitting under
1t whilst they had their way.
They won't have their way now.
he said, grimly
You have acted chivalrously, she
said, and he stepped gloomily towards
the door.
Continued Next Week.