The Brownsville daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1897-1910, 1909-08-14
II Won would

But she had drawn away, had
averted her face; and he might not
see it; and she shivered slightly. star
ing out Of the window at the passing
lights. He saw, and perforce paused.
'You-you don't understand" she
told him IN a rush You give me
credit beyond my due. I didn't break
into your fat again. tonight. in order
to return the jewels-at least. not for
that alone"
But you did bring back the jewels?"
She nodded.
Then doesn't that prove what I
claim, prove that you've cleared your
SELF"
NO" she told him, firmly, with the
frmness Of despair; 1T does not. BE-
cause I did not come for that only.
came with another purpose-to steal.
as well as TO make restitution. And /
II stole"
There was a moments silence. On
his part incredulous. Il don't know
what you mean. What did you steal?
Where is it?"
Il have lost it"
WAS it in your hand-bagT
You found that?"
You dropped 1t N the trunk-closeG
I found it there. There is something
Of mine in it,"
Dumb with misery, she nodded; and
after a little: You didn't look, Of
course"
81 had no right" he said, shortly.
"Other men wo-would have thought
they had the right. I th-think you
had, the circumstances considered. At
all events" steadying her voice, Il
say you have, now. / give you that
right. Please go and investigate that
handbag. Mr.. Maitland. 1 wish you to-"
He turned and stared at her curious
/ ly. Il don't know what to think" he
said. Il can not believe"
You mu-must believe. l have no
right to profit by your disbelief. Dear
Mr. Maitland, you have been kind to
me, very kind to me; do me this last
kindness. If you will"
The young face turned to him was
gravely and perilously sweet; very
nearly he forgot all else. But that
she would not have.
do this for me. What you will ind
viii explain everything You will IN
/ derstand. Perhaps = timidly = per
haps you may even find it in your
heart to forgive when you understand
If you should, my card-case is in the
bag, and" She faltered, biting her
lip cruelty to steady voice quiyering
with restrained sobs. please, please
go at once, and-and see for yourselfi"
she implored him passionately.
OF a sudden he found himself re-
solved Indeed, he fancied that It
were dangerous to oppose her; she
was overweight. on the verge Of los
ing her command Of self. She wished
this thing, and though with all his soul
he hated it, he would do as she de-
sired
Every well" he assented quietly.
"Shall l stop the cab now?"
Please"
He tapped on the roof of the han
som and told the cabby to draw in at
the next corner Thus he was put
down not far from his home-below
I
the Thirty-third street grade.
Neither spoke as he aIighted, and
she believed that he was leaving her
in displeasure and adherence; but he
had only stepped behind the cab for a
moment to speak to the driver. In q
moment he was back, standing by the
step with one hand on the apron and
staring in very earnestly and soberly
at the Swallowed sweetness of her pal
lid face, that cleaned in the gloom
there like some pale, shy. sad flower.
Could there be evil combined with
such sheer loneliness, with features
that in every line bodied forth the
purity of the spirit that abode within?
In the soul of him he could not believe
that thief's nature fed canker-like at
the heart OF a woman so divinely,
naively dear and desirable And-he
would not
Won't you let me go?"
Just a minute IL should like to
If find that you have done nothing
so very dreadful" he laughed uneasi-
ly, do you wish to know"
you know 1 do" She could not
help saying that, letting him see that
far into her heart.
You spoke of my calling. believe
That means tomorrow afternoon, at
the earliest. May 1 not call you up on
the telephone?"
The number is in the book" she
said in a tremulous voice
"And your name in the card-case?"
"Yes"
And if 1 should call in half an
hour"
20. I shall not sleep until I knSw!
Good night"
Good night, Drive on, cabby."
He stood. smiling queerly, until the
hanson. climbing The Park Ayenus
hill, vanished over its. shoulder. Then
swung about and with an easer step