Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-09-08
Perhaps ! can show Mr.. Wayland that
he was in the wrong. It's our only

'sHe said q lot OF things that at any
other time would have made him
swallow on the spot. But It's only Q
pleasure deferred. With your help, III
do it in their presence. don't like to
tell you this, but the truth is vital to
us all, and want to arm myself.
Cherry was silent
.Yop may leave 1t to me-" he said
gently. II will see that Marsh sets You
right"
"There is nothing to set right said
the girl, YEARLY. Marsh told the
truth, i dare say"
"The truth! My God! You don't
know what you're saying"
eyes, do" She returned his look OF
shocked horror with half-hearted de.
f1ance. You must have known who
am. Fraser knew, and he must nave
told you. You knew had followed the
mining camps, you knew had lived
by my wits. You must have known
what people thought Of me. cast my
lot in with the people Of this country,
and had to match my wits with those
of every man met. Sometimes
won, sometimes did not. You know
the north"
II didn't know" he said, slowly. y
never thought wouldn't allow my
self to think"
y "Why not? 1t is nothing to you. You
have lived, and SO have I. made
mistakes girl doesn't who has
to fight her way alone? But my past IS
my own; it concerns nobody but me"
She saw the change in his face and her
reckless spirit rose. "Oh, I've shocked
you! You think all women should De
like Miss Wayland. Have you ever
stopped to think that even you are not
the same man you were when you
came fresh from college? You know
the world now; you have tasted It's
wickedness. Would you change your
knowledge for your earlier innocence?
You know you would not, and you
have no right to Judge me by sep
arate code. What difference does II
make who am or what have done!
I didn't ask your record when gave
you the chance to win Miss Waylanpd
and neither you nor she have any
right to challenge mine"
Il agree with you in that.
II came away from the mining
camps because Of wagging tongues -
because was forever misjudged.
Whatever l may have been, ! have at
least played fair with that girl; It
hurts me now to be accused by her.
saw your love TO- her, and l never
tried Ito rob her. oh, don't look as Il
II couldn't have done differently If |
had tried. ! could have injured her very
easily if had been the sort she thinks
me. But helped you in every way
could. I made sacrifices. i did things
she would never have done
She stopped on the verge OF tears.
Boyd felt the justice of her words. He
could not forget the unselfish devotion
and loyalty she had shown throughout
his long struggle. For the hundredth
time there came to him the memory
| OF her services In the matter OF Hi.
lliard's loan,. and the thought caused
his unspeakable distress.
sWhy-did you do all this" ne
asked. !,
Don't you know?" Cherry gazed at
him, with faint smile. .@
Then, for the first time. the whole
truth burst upon him. The surprise OF
it almost deprived him Of speech, and
he stammered:
"No, IL" Then he fell silent.
what, little did, did because !
love YOU" said the girl, in a tired
voice. you may as well know, for IT
makes no difference now"
ell am sorry he said, gripped by
q strong emotion that made him go
hot and cold. II have been fool"
"No, you were merely wrapped up
in your own affairs. You see, had
been living my own life, and was fair
Nv contented till you came; then every.
thing changed. For a long time hoped
you might grow to love me as loved
you, but found it was no use. When
/ saw you so honest and unself1sh In
your devotion to that other girl, !
thought it was my chance to do some.
thing unselfish in my turn. 1t was
hard-but l did my best. think !
must love you in the same way you
love her, Boyd, for there is nothing
in all the world would not do to make
you happy. That's all there is to the
poor little story, and it won't make
any difference now, except that you
and can't go on as we have done; l
shall never have the courage to come
back after this. You will win Miss
WdyldQu yet, anu dItdIA yOul uCdl .
desire. am only sorry that have
made it harder for you-that cannot
help you any further. But / cannot.
There is but one thing more l can
do"
81 want no more sacrificed" he cried
roughly. 1--WE been blind. I've taken
too much from you already"
The girl stood for a moment with
her eyes turned toward the river.
Then she said:
II must think. III want to go away.
Goodbye"
Goodbye he returned, and stood
watching her as she hurried away,
half suspecting the tears that were
trembling amid her lashes.
It was not until supper time that
Boyd saw "Fingerless" Fraser, and
questioned him about his. quest for
an heiress.
Nothing doing in the heiress bust
ness" replied the adventurer. II
couldn't stand the exposure"
sThey were cold eh?"