The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-04-11
A Mystery
Romance
"
,@8Bae8B8 $4,000
Copyright. 1909. by Dodd.
Mead L. Co.
ntinued from YesterdayD

y
you. ! mean It."
But why?" he faltered.
Shirley sighed unconsciously.
lit is time that made myself plain.
understood to you. not because you're
entitled to an explanation. but be-
cause-well, because like you Just q
bit"
4 serious f0ok WITS on her face. She
seemed suddenly to have changed.
The thousand and one little manner
isms that were SO large part OF the
girls attractiveness were all there. but
the voice was no longer the mirthfui
voice of the Shirley that he knew and
loved She spoke as though in
trance:
Can you understand me when ! say
that l have got to have something
more than love? am too practical,
Billy. to fool myself-or you. Perhaps
I'm cursed with the instincts OF my
kind--of the American girl. oh. let
ME tell you now it isr' she exclaimed
impulsiyely, "All my life I've been
surrounded by men who were failures.
My grandfather was A failure. my IA
Their was failure, and my brothers
are failures. They have tainted my
happiness. Don't misunderstood me, |
love them. but can't look up to them"
"But-you don't want money!" he
protested. You're too much the right
sort of an American girl for that"
mo. not exactly money. But the
VIZ Ia N q w
can surmouut all obstacles" she an.
swered. with grave tenderness, who
has success running in his veins.
Have you ever lain awake at
night Billy. and planned your future?
have. And In these dreams of mine
/ would always take my place by the
side of my great knight Grant, help
ing him to become greater. At times
he has been a dipiomatist. jurist. q
| iawmaker. and have always tent him
strength. When l marry. Billy. my
husbands work will be my work. his
struggles my struggles. but the man
must have greatness running through
his veins"
Then haven't figured often in the
imelight OF your dreams!
''If only you had. Billy. but you
haven't. much as | have tried my best
to At my knights armor on you and
place you on hts warhorse. Now. can't
you see what 1t would mean II we
made the experiment of marriage?
Marriage would not make me happy.
II would he misery
Misery" he gasped.
Yes, misery for you" she finished.
"Can the girl who must have money
make poor man happy, much as she
may love him? Can the butterfly make
a bookworm happy. much as she may
love him? A woman with social ambi-
lions loves a man with none. Can she
make him happy? No. And. while
am none of these. yet somehow I've
got to fulfill my destiny. and I'm not
going to chafe. anger and eyerlastingly
offend the man who doesn't belong
doesn't ct in With my ideas.'
But | do ft In. as you phrase it."
Murgatroyd maintained. Haven't l
ambition? And am l not a fighterr
You'd think so IL you knew the devil
Of fight | am having right now with
my own organiza ,ion-with Cradle
baugh's-and I'm going to VIM
Shirley shook her head.
You are too much of a reformer,
too much of a crank. No; I'm sorry to
tell you so, but In my inmost soul
believe you will fail. You're built that
way. don't know why. but men Of
influence have weighed you In the
balance and found you wanting. WILL
liam Murgatroyd. politically you're
dead That's what they tell me-
Murgatroyd's face paIed.
But the peopie-the people believe
In me-"
Shirley smiled again.
You haven't any diplomacy"
Not If you cali obeying orders from
Peter Broderick diplomacy"
You hit from the shoulder wildly,
Billy. 1t lands on aud hurts your OPP
ponent. but 1t kills you. You're only
honest. Billy: nothing else
Murgatroyd called out to her:
Only honest. Doesn't that count
with you? Doesn't 1t s!gnify?"
Its easy enough to be honest. but
it is great TO make your honesty save
and not destroy you: to get these
men behind you instead of opposed to
you; TO maze your organization do
what you want 10 do: to rise upon
its shoulders because you make It lift |
you up Alb"
but, Shirley. cant you see that the |
man who stauds UP for principle
cannot fail:''
What have you done so far?" she |
added. You're prosecutor Of the |
pleas. your first. last and only office.
Am right"
I'm afraid you are" he answered |
duly. In way what you say IL
the truth. Politically l shall die
Murgatroyd shuddered al be spoke
unless l can force this issue to fin--
ish while my once hsts. -
Shirley shifted her mode of attack.
Look at Mr.. Thorne"
"Ah. It lis Thorne then"
Awhile ago told you 1t was not
Mr.. Fkprnc. But SONS dxY sh&ti
\
ii ss; ~ Il ~ IN