The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1910-08-11

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 l 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 crime,
a sin, a bodily proclamation, mental
and spiritual degradation to which the
other"-he knew to what she alluded
as she paused-"were nothing, If l
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 would be
loved, I admit, not as, please God, l
shall be loved by him. He doesn't
know; he doesn't understand. Wis
dom will come to him and he will
come back"
ut might be so," said the man. "I
came back. But he believes you
dead"
"And didn't you when you searched
for me during those three years?"
NO" answered Langford, 81 had a
confident hope that somewhere you
were alive"
And will he not have that hope,
| too?"
Il 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. l
cannot love you. If he is dead, shall
love his memory until l meet him, if
| so be l may be found worthy of that,
and 1 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
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
yonder. I can have you bound hand
and foot and take you aboard of her.
l will say that you are mad, that l am
taking you back to the United States
to your friends. You must come back
with me. can't let you CO."
Valentine" said the woman, quiet
ly, "if you do not instantly release
me, will kill you where you stand.
You don't realize how strong l am.
See!"
With a quick, sudden movement she
caught his arms with her free hands
and literally tore them apart. To her
1.-THE and vigorous body she added
spirit and determination which made
her indeed more than match for the
slender, somewhat broken man before
her.
"You see," she cried. She stood be.
tween him and the doorway, one hand
outstretched, the fingers open. Il
could kill you before you left this
cave. You told me that you had sent
your men back to the ship and that
you were alone upon the island, and l
could hide where l hid before and
they would find your dead body here
upon the sands. That would be all"
Kill me if you wish," said the man
recklessly. 81 don't care. Perhaps
that would be the better way"
NO" said the woman, Il respect
you too much for that"
Respect me?"
Yes. You have shown me what
you are by what you have done, all
but this mad action Of a moment
since, and l can understand that, my
friend, for l too love, and 1t seems to
me that l would brook anything, ev,
erything, for one moment like that
you fain would have enjoyed. But we
are not children, neither are we say
ages to act like beasts of prey. for,
give you, l trust you" She came
close to him and laid her hand upon
his arm. 81 respect you, I admire
you!" g.
Everything" said the man, "but
love me-"
Everything but that" assented the
woman quietly.
"T shan't offend .gain," returned
the man. Neither ~ force nor per
suasion can 1 effec anything. Kate"
he said after an her pause, come
back to the Ur led States or to some
civilized land The world is before
you. will If nd you where you please
and give you or lend you money
enough to enable you to get where you
like. You shall be on the yacht to me
as my sister"
'It can't be-" said the woman. Don't
you see that I can accept no favors
from you?"
"But no one need ever know; will
discharge the crew of the yacht In
some South American port. They
will scatter
God would know and l would
know and when 1 see him again,
would have to tell him. 1t would make
it harder for me. And I don't want
to go back. will wait here for him.
Kate" said the man inpulsively
"it was ungenerous of me not to have
told you before. They took him away
from the islands senseless, raving will
brain fever. He collapsed stricken al
If dead on the sand by that little heal
of clothes and the Bible which bore
your message. He thought you dead
He left the ship in the tArly morning
to seek you. The shocA was too mucl
for him."
"He loved me, tnen," said thu
woman