The Irish standard., 1910-11-19

mo. I suppose not" He turned
away from her and began to pace the
room with long steady steps.
Mr.. Gormly." she said at last, "come
here. Sit down there on the other
side of the table. want to see you"
Amazed, the man complied with her
request.
Nov tell me the whole solemn
truth. You say my father was here
with you before cameo"
yes"
Does he know that you know
1T was to see me about that that
he came"
did he make some effort to induce
you not to publish these facts?"
Naturally"
What was the effort?"
"He argued with me-"
us that ALP
HE threatened retaliation"
"Is that all?"
Il think he even pleaded"
"And is that alp"
Yes" said Gormly, telling her his
first lie, telling 1T bravely, audaciously,
even looking her straight in the eye
without blenching.
"Mr Gormly" returned the wom-
an, whatever he is, my father is not
fool"
His worst enemy would not so de-
scribe him."
He knew that you were not man
who could be moved by threats or en-
treaties. You have demonstrated that
you can be, in this campaign at least,
iron hard, inflexible, immutable. And
there is no argument that any mortal
man could use which could induce you
to hold your hand. Isn't that true?"
II am afraid so'
fluence your
Great heaven" cried Gormly, II
have told you all that I will tell you;
all that you have right to know! Suf-
fee it to say that he did not move
me-"
"Mr. Gormly. ask you, implore
Sou, I adjure you, did my father offer
me to buy your silence?"
Gormly stared at her in CHASTITY hor-
ror.
"You don't answer" said Miss Hal
dane.
mo"
stop! You are on oath now, by
your honor as gentleman. by your
belief in God, by your faith in woman
kind, by your love for me! want the
truth. Indeed, 1t is almost unneces-
| for fN ,{Io
everything. confirms me in that belief.
! A man who would do what he has
done would not hesitate at that. But
| I must know, and I must have your
answer"
"And I can't tell you"
"Wou can"
well, I won't then. T. have told
you enough. Anything else you must
get from other people"
"And SO you refused me?" said the
girl standing up Look at mel" She
stretched her hands out and stood
boldly, magnificently, deiantly before
him. "You refused me! Many men
have wooed me; many men have
sought me for wife. I did not love
You, ] don't love you: but ] might
have learned. You might have had
me. You say am the dearest desire
of your heart A little silence, a pa
per torn in two, a momentary forget
fulnsss, and I should have been
yours" She picked the paper up from
the table as she spoke and held it be-
for her. II could tear it up in a mo.
ment. Think what you might have
had" She stepped slowly around the
table and approached him. She came
nearer to him. He stared at her fixed
ly without moving. She was by his
side now. She laid her hand upon his
shoulder. ME-" she said, "for this,
and you refused"
He nodded. It was the hardest task
life had ever laid upon him, this dis
cussion.
What are you made OFF," she cried
Il don't know" gasped the man
hoarsely. Il was fool!"
will you take me now? she inter-
posed swiftly, "and suppress this? If
I say that I will marry you tomorrow,
will you keep this secret forever"
Great God!" whispered the man,
"how you tempt mel"
will you do it? Answer"
mol" said Gormly family at last
| II WON'T"
why nok?"
| For two reasons. I would not be
worth your respect for moment II
did. could never hope for your love
in that case. And I won't have any
woman that have to buy"
And We have both tried to bribe