, 1910-03-31
Nrand. Where Rad You hIdden9 why

rsrand. Where Rad you hidden? Why
have you done it?"
She rose slowly to her feet and con.
fronted him.
You'll she said bitterly. why have
o come backg"
Il don't know" answered Langford.
Il can't tell what moved me. / was
mere on the island with the others. I
searched with the rest. I know that
no foo of 1t was left upvisited. Every
crag n Granny. every thicket and
coppice' every tree, every cave and rift
In the rocks was examined over and
over again. We knew that you were
gone M yet / could not believe IT,.
Yesterday afternoon I parted from the
cruiser. did not bear away for this
island until 1t was too lark and they
were too far away to see what I would
be about. and then I came back here
at full speed"
Why did you come?"
Il don't know. I was not satisfied.
1t Seemed to me that I must come
back and search again. I could not
believe it possible that you were dead,
really dead. Something in my heart,
at any rate. brought me back once
o to see the place where ycu had
lived If no more than that. We made
the island early in the morning. The
yacht lies yonder. I came ashore a
moment since and some kind Provi-
dence led me first of all to this spot.
! entered the cave. I saw you lying
there in the cool darkness. I thought
you dead at first. Then l cried to you
and you moved. And then I touched
your hand. o Kate, thank God I have
found you!"
Where is he!" said the oman
why didn't he come back?"
1t was a cruel thing to say, but she
could no more have helped 1t than
she could have helped her breathing.
Not to have said 1t would have killed
her, for II Langford's love could turn
him back, what should be said then of
Charnock's. Langford was pale and
haggard. He, too. had suffered. He
was paying for his sins. He was *
plating them m feeling 1t, although
the expiation was not helping her.
What of him?" she asked insist
emily.
What matters about him?' he said
bitterly. "He had his chance. He
failed to grasp 1t. 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 or
speak. or move. or feel, by the shock
Of her departure.
Once said the woman, you had
your chance in the cabin Of that very
yacht ont yonder and you failed to
grasp 1t and we separated"
Yes" said the man. 81 know that,
I realize that now, and | came back.
I have come back to take my chance
again"
And SO he may come back" said
the m You sank lower than
he"
and / rose higher the other day
upon the sand"
you did. but not high enough. Ibe.
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
mistake?' said the man.
No. returned the woman neither
will l condemn him for that one mis-
take"
But he's gone. ! tell you"
And he will come back. I know"
"He thinks you dead"
$50 did you"
But I 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. I trust him
still
And you don't trust me?"
81 trust you enough, but I don't love
you"
30 Kate. think! There must be
something in what I feel for you to
move you. / did not know what 1t
was. / did not realize it. l came
back in the first place as much be-
cause l had been a blackguard and a
coward and wanted to set myself right
In your eyes as because I cared for
you, but every hour OF search made
me know my own heart, and since
have seen you. since l see o now,
there is nothing I would not do for
you. There isn't any expiation or
amendment or anything now, but be-
cause | am a man, n love you, |
want you. want to make you happy.
And | am the n 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 m 81
must believe what you say You
awaken my pity, my tenderness, my
consideration. but these are all. He is
not by to neal and therefore ! will say,
for vou deserve the truth that lust as