Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-11-05
xxIII-continued.

He looked unutterably panied and
dismayed.
Would you, then. have me believe
you feigned that illness to escape me-
Paulette?"
"Yes." she answered, "for did,"
"And that you were out in these
grounds till long after midnight?"
"Yes," again.
He sat looking at her with grieved,
astonished eyes.
"A forced confidence" he said, rs
none at all. No, will ask nothing
more Heaven forbid that so small
matter should come between US for
single moment! It is all right, know.
Some time you will tell me Of your own
will-till then I can wait"
She arose from her seat.
Arthur" she cried, II can never
marry you!"
He started UP also and stood facing
her. The peacock spread Its Saudy
plumes in the walk beside them. The
bright sun slanted on their pale faces.
An oriole sat singing, mad with joy' IN
the boughs overhead.
"Paulette," cried Arthur Guilte, are
YOU beside yourself? Do you know
what you say?'
Perfectly; from this moment you
are free"
He grew raging red.
How good Of you! But suppose l
object to such freedom? Why can you
not marry me?"
Il have no reason to give" she an
swered.
And you think" he said, slowly, Il
can be content without one?"
you must!" she replied. Something
has happened, and all is changed"
What has happened?" he demanded
wringing her hands in his own till she
was ready to cry out. Have you ceas-
ed to love me, Paulette?"
A spasm contracted her mouth.
Ceased to love you!" she echoed In
a voice Of anguish, and, as If the truth
was torn from her against her WILL
"oh, great God! MOI"
He looked intensely relieved.
Then, in the name Of all that's mys-
terious, Paulette, what caprice has got
possession Of you? This is hardly
subject for trifling, and yet you cannot
be in earnest"
"Oh, so terribly in earnest; Arthur"
Then she drew his ring from her hand.
Take it," she cried, wildly: hate me
forget me-do anything but love me!
Oh, that 1 had never seen you? Take
your rins-why do you not take it?"
With face as colorless as her own.
he stood motionless.
Because you have just admitted that
you still love me, and so long as you
can say that, you are mine-my very
own! You are angry because l listen
ed to Hilda-becauSe my jealousy
prompted me to question you about
your movements last night, and you
choose this way to punish me. Pau
lette, Paulette, say that it Is so!'
Never had his love seemed to her so
precious as at this moment when she
must yield 1t forever; never had she
so deeply felt its fervor and strength.
NO" she answered, hearing her voice
like a sound far off. You are quite
wrong. 1t is no caprice. Don't torture
me with questions. / cannot answer
must forget you-you must forget me-
Arthur-Arthur, take your ring"
Her great distress moved him to obey
He dropped the golden band into his
pocket.
Us this parting to be for a day or
year. Paulette?"
Neither" she answered.; but for all
time
And the general-have you thought
of him?"
She wrung her small, childish hands.
"Oh, so much-oh, so remorsefully!"
"Paulette, you love him long before
you loved me-you are immeasurably
dear to him. Since I seem to nave no
claim to your confidence, will you open
your heart to him-will you tell him
what this great obstacle is which has
suddenly risen between us?'
mo, no." she shivered. "Oh, no."
The pain and perplexity in his face
deepened. He walked a few steps
down the path, then came slowly back.
She could have fallen at his feet as
she looked at him.
AT least" he implored, do not break
the news to him yet. l may, perhaps,
find some means to soften his disap-
pointment. AS for myself, l feel like
man in a nightmare. Yesterday you
loved me-today you annul our engage
ment; you give me no clue to the mys-
what am 1 to believe? Have you no
pity for me-do you not see that suf-
fer?"
Yes. she cared. Her ashy face, her
big, woeful eyes told him that.
More, Arthur, infinitely more than
for myself" she said. But have told
you all l can tell; we are parted for
ever, and / can never, never be your
wife"
Yet, you say you love me-"
she answered only WIFI SeSlule'
Her proud head had fallen on her
breast. He approached her with
grand, overmastering air.
"Give you up in this way" cried ne,
"for reasons of which know nothing,
/ shall not Words only can never
part us-I love you too well! What
has come over you? l cannot even
guess-some evil spell, surely, and 1
must trust to time and sober thought
to exercise it. Mind. l do not give you
up: l shall never give you up so long
as we walk the earth together. l do
not even consider the bond between us
broken; ] simply leave you to yourself
a little while"
He gathered her suddenly, irresisti-
bly,, to his heart, pressed back her
white, shuddering face and kissed her:
then turned on his heel and walked
swiftly. blindly away.
Prone on the garden seat. in a silent
mOtiOnleSS heap Law Paulette. tasting