The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-12-09


bitterly. "He had his chance. He
failed to grasp it. He's gone"
The man did not tell her that Char
mock had been carried away a sense
less log, bereft of power to think OF
speak, or move, or feel, by the shocl
of her departure.
"Once," said the woman, you had
your chance in the cabin of that very
yacht out yonder and you failed tt
grasp it and we separated"
yes" said the man, 81 know that
I realize that now, and came back
! have come back to take my chance
again"
"And so he may come back" said
the woman. you sank lower thar
he"
"And I rose higher the other day
upon the sand"
'You did, but not high enough. be
lieve in him. He will realize It, too
she went on. all the confidence of her
hopes springing into life again and
giving force and power to her voice
and bearing.
And you condemn me for that one
mistaken" said the man.
NO" returned the woman, neither
will | condemn him for that one mis-.
take"
But he's gone, tell you"
And he will come back, know"
HE thinks you dead"
so did you"
But came back, not he"
You were your own master" said
the woman swiftly. you could go
where you pleased. He was subject
to the decision of others. l trust him
still"
And you don't trust me?"
Il trust you enough, but don't love
you"
20 Kate. think! There must be
something in what feel for you to
move you. I did not know what it
was. / did not realize it. l came
back in the first place as much be-
cause had been a BLACKBOARD and a
coward and wanted to set myself right
in your eyes as because l cared for
you, but every hour of search made
me know my own heart, and since l
have seen you, since I see you now,
there Is nothing I would not do for
you. There isn't any expiation or
amendment or anything now, but be-
cause l am a man, and love you, l
want you. want to make you happy.
And am the one man in the world
that ought to want you and want to
make you happy. 1t is for that l have
come back to you"
How terrible are the arrangements
Of blind fate" said the woman. Il
must believe what you say. You
awaken my pity, my tenderness, my
consideration. but these are all. He is
not by to hear and therefore will say,
for you deserve the truth, that Just as
you say you love me, nay, then, just as
you do and more a thousand times,
love that man. 1t would be a crime,
a sin, a bodily proclamation, a mental
and spiritual degradation to which the
other"-he knew to what she alluded
as she paused-"were nothing, If
should come to you with my whole
heart and soul given to the man." she
threw her hand out in a great sweep
ing gesture, "yonder out at sea-"
But he doesn't love you"
20 yes, he does. Not as l would be
loved, | admit, not as, please God,
shall be loved by him. He doesn't
know; he doesn't understand. Wis
dom will come to him and he will
come back"
1T might be So" said the man. 81
came back. But he believes you
dead"
And didn't you when you searched
for me during those three years."
NO." answered Langford, Il had a
confident hope that somewhere you
were alive"
And will he not have that hope,
tool"
II cannot believe It,
There was long, frightful pause.
The woman sighed deeply.
1T may be as you say. 1t may be
that we are separated forever. 1t may
be that l shall never look upon him
again, nor he upon me, but that makes
no difference. l do not love you.
cannot love you. If he is dead, shall
love his memory until meet him, if
SO be l may be found worthy of that,
and will keep myself for him. No
other man shall have what belongs to
him."
They had stepped nearer the en-
trance of the cave, which was a spa
cious one, as they spoke. The beauty
Of the woman in that soft light was
SO intense that it cast over Langford
a spell. He heard the sound of her
voice, but did not heed what she said.
Suddenly he caught her in his arms.
Kate" he cried, I'VE are alone here
and l am master. That is my ship
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.