The Brownsville daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1897-1910, 1909-10-16

ing my own life and other peoples.
if it comes to that. Amen
Margaret bent her head little and
was silent
Now you know why I won't prom
Use what you asked" said Van Torp
in conclusion.
you have no right to speak like
that" she said rather weakly. after a
moment
Perhaps not I don't know But
I consider that you have a right to
know the truth, and that's enough for
me. It's not as if I'd made up my
mind to steal your ewelamb from you
and put myself in its pla .e Logo
theft is not any sort of ewe-lamb.
He's man, he's got plenty Of strength
and determination. he's got plenty Of
money even what l choose to call
plenty. He says he cares for you. All
right So do l. He says he'll marry
you say that I will All right again.
You're the prize put up for the best
of two fighting men. You're not the
first woman in history who's been
fought for, but, by all that's holy,
there never was one better worth, not
Helen of Troy herself"
The last few words came with
sort of stormy rush. and he turned
round suddenly, and stood with his
back against the gate, thrusting his
hands deep into his coat-pockets, per
haps with the idea of keeping them
quiet; but he did not come any near
er to her, and she felt she was per-
fectly safe, and that a much deeper
and more lasting power had hold Of
him than any mere passionate longing
to take her In his arms and press his
iron lips on hers against her will.
Margaret was not angry: she was
hardly displeased, but she was really
at a loss what to say, and she said
the first sensible thing that suggested
itself and that was approximately
true
I'm sorry you have told me all
this. We might have spent these next
two days very pleasantly together.
Oh, I'm not pretending what I don't
feel It's impossible for man
like me, who can still be free. not to
be fiattered when such a man as you
cares for her in earnest, and says
the things you have. But, on the 9TH
er hand, I'm engaged to be married to
another man. and it would not be
loyal of me to let you make love to
me-"
'I don't mean to-" said Van Torp
stoutly 1T won't be necessary. III
never spoke again you wouldn't for
get what I've told you-everi Why
should I say 1t again? I don't want
to- until you can say as much to me
If it's time to go, hitch the lead to my
collar and take me home! I'll follow
you as quietly rs a spaniel any
where"
And what would happen if told
you not to follow me, but to go home
and lie down in your kennel?' She
laughed low as she moved away from
the gate.
Pm not sure" answered Van Torp.
Don't"
The last word was not spoken at
all with an accent of warning, but it
was not said in a begging tone either.
Margaret's short laugh followed in
stantly.
you said Just now that you would
not say over again any of those
things you have told me tonight. Do
you mean that?"
Yes, l mean it."
Then please promise that you
won't. That's all 1 ask if you are go
ing to spend the next two days here.
and if am to let you see me-"
81 promise" Van Torp answered,
without hesitation.
She allowed herself the illusion that
she had both done the right thing
and also taken the position of COM
imand; and he, standing beside her,
iallowed himself to smile at the fulfill
ty of what she was requiring OF him
with so much earnestness, for little
'as he knew of women's ways he was
more than sure that the words he
had spoken that night would come
back to her again and again; and more
than that he could not hope at pres
ent. But she could not see his face
clearly.
Thank you" she said. That shall
be our compact"
To his surprise, she held out her
hand He took 1t with wonderful calm
ness, considering what the touch
meant to him, and he returned dis
creetly what was meant for a friendly
pressure She was so well satisfied
now that she did not think it neces-
sary tc telegraph 70 LOgotheti that
he might start at once, though even
if she had done Sc Immediately he
could hardly have reached Bayreuth
till the afternoon OF the next day but
one when the last performance Of
"ParsifaI" would be already going on;
and she herself intended to leave on
the morning after that.
She walked forward in silence for
q few moments. ard the lights Of the
town grew quickly brighter.