Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-12-09

and good and wonderful In many
ways, but three years had altered him
more than be had realised. He had
begun to understand himself that
very afternoon. when Cherry had told
him her own unhappy secret. The
shock of her disclosure had reused him
from his dream. and once he began to
see himself az he really was the rest
had come quickly. He had been
doubtful even when he went out to
the yacht. but what happened there
had destroyed the last trace Of un.
certainty. He knew that for him
there was but one woman in all the
world. It was no easy battle he haS
fought with himself. He had beef.
reared to respect the conventions. and
he knew that Cherry's life had not
been all he could wish. But he front
ed the issue squarely and tried to
throttle his inbred prejudice. Al
though he had felt the truth Of Fra.
ser's arguments and Of Cherry's own
words. he had still refused to yield
until his love for the girl swept over
him in all its power: then he made his
choice.
The one thing he found most diff
cult to accept was her conduct with
billiard. Those other charges against
the girl were vague and shadowy. but
this was concrete. and he was familiar
with every miserable detail OF 1t. 1t
took all his courage to face it. but he
swore savagely that if the conditions
had been reversed Cherry would not
have faltered for an instant. More
over. what she had done had been
done for love Of him. 1t was worse
than vile 10 hesitate. Her past was
her own. and all he could rightfully
claim was her future. He shut his
teeth and laid his course resolutely for
her landing. striving to leave behind
this one hideous memory. centering his
mind upon the girl herself and shut
ting out her past. 1t was the bitter
est fight he had ever waged. But
when he reached the shore and tied
his skin he was exalted by the knowl-
edge that he had triumphed: that this
painful episode wa: locked away with
all the others.
Now that he had conquered he was
dlled with a consuming eagerness. AS
he stole up through the shadows he
heard her playing, and when he drew
nearer he recognized the notes Of that
song that bad banished his own black
desolation on the night Of their first
meeting. He paused outside the open
light that she was playing from mem,
DRY. her fingers wandering over the
keyboard without conscious effort
Then she took up the words with ali
the throbb!ng tenderness that lives In
a deep contralto voice:
Last night was dreaming Of thee. love-
was canning;
I dreamed thou didst promise
Cherry paused as If entranced, for
she thought she heard another voice
Join with hers. Then she bowed her
head and sobbed In utter wretched-
ness. knowing it for nothing more than
her own fancy. Too many times. as
in other twilights past, she had heard
that mellow voice blend with hers,
only to find that her ears had played
her false and she was alone with
memory that would never die.
OF all the days Of her life this was
the saddest. this hour the loneliest.
and the tears she had withheld 80
bravely as long as there was work to
do came now in unbidden profusion.
To face those people on the yacht
had been an act Of pure devotion to
belled against it. Yet she had known
that some desperate stroke in his de-
tense must be delivered instantly;
otherwise the ruin Of his hopes would
follow. She had hit upon the device
Of using Constantine and Chakawana
largely by chance. for not until the
previous day had she learned the truth.
She had not dared to hope for such
unqualified success. nor had she fore.
seen the tragic outcome. She had sim
ply carried her plan through to its
natural conclusion. Now that her
work was done she gave way COM
pletely and wept like 4 little girl. He
was out there now with his love-
They would never waste a thought
upon that other girl who had made
their happiness possible. The thought
was almost more than she could bear.
Never again could she have Boyd to
herself. never enjoy his careless friend.
ship as Of old. Even that was over
now that he knew the truth.
The first and only kiss he had ever
given her burned fresh upon her lips.
She recalled that evening they had
spent alone in this very room. when be
had seemed to waver and her hopes
had risen at the dawning Of a new
light In bis eyes. At the memory she
cried aloud as IL her heart would
break:
Boyd! Boydr'