Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1910-04-28

more.
Dear" he said pleadingly, dear
est!"-but she made no sign. Their
suddenly he bent and caught her tc
him with crushing force, pressing
fierce kisses on lips and brow and
cheek. She did not resist. She lay
passive in his embrace, utterly move
less and unrespensiye. His lips grew
chill; his clasp loosened. She faced
him calmly-her cheek family flushed
but for the rest quite unmoved.
Its hopeless. dear" she said quiet.
~, "a faint iutter of the pulses-pure-
/ ly physical-nothing more"
He laid his face down upon his
arms.
God" he said miserably, 81 couldn't
nave lived through those awful years
II Id dreamed of this" She might
have pitied him, but that she no long
er allowed herself the luxury of emo
lions.
Strange, isn't IT," she said musing-
ly, that the things we most care for
in this world come to Us after we have
ceased to care? Five years ago I
would have given my life for an hour
like this and now"
"Don't!' he cried sharply, Il can't
bear it,"
I'm sorry. dear" she said gently.
He did not lift his head. There was a
little silence in the room
WILL" she went on after a little
there is something more. IL am to
be married soon to man I've known
fer years. | gave him my promise
soon after the death of your wife"
You knew" he queried sharply.
You knew that l was free, yet you
did not wait, you gave me no
chance"
1T would not have mattered. There
was no chance"
Then you love him-this other
MANI"
If / did | should not marry him. 1
have exhausted emotion, Will don't
live any longer-I only exist. Ny one
prayer is that may never love again. /
| have suffered enough. If found I 4
was beginning to care for Archie |
should ask for my freedom at once"
lie listened quietly-a hurt, dumb
wonder growing in his eyes
AS il is" she pursued evenly II
like, admire and respect him thorough
ly. He's a fine fellow, our tastes are
congenial and we're the best of com.
rades. ! think he loves me In his
way Infinitely better than | can ever
love him-but he will not be the loser
by that. ! can be far more charming
to him as matters stand than if | wor.
shipped him. A woman loses her
power over man the moment he
knows she loves him. Till then he's
her slave; thereafter her master. II
loved Archie | should be unnatural
md constrained, striving always to be i
not myself but whatever / fancied he'd
wish me to be; word or look from
aim could make me miserable. if he
glanced at another woman | should
suffer; the fear of losing his love
would constantly torture me-ln short
should be thoroughly wretched.
Whereas l think | shall be quite com !
ortable and content Actors say they /
produce their emotional effects when I
heir own emotions are controlled. So !
shall play my pretty wifely role all I
he better because my heart is not
involved. And ! shall be happy ,
nough-as happiness goes in this I,
world"
And II" He queried bitterly. /,
You also, Will Youll marry some
ne else in time and probably be hap !
Ter than with me. I've often thought. :
viii, that If I'd married you. / might :
ave made you very uncomfortable. !,
/. great devotion frequently has that
fleet upon its object, I've observed. /
hould have wearied you with my az.
action and worried you with exac.
IONS; we should both have suffered i
nd probably ended by boring each !,
Their. Even If our love had proved b
trong enough to survive the friction e
daily life, We should in the end. aft I
r months of discord and discomfort. Ii
18th occasional rapturous intervals n
My have arrived at the point where v
richie and / are beginning-a good +
lmfortable camaraderie, which, aft v
r all, is the safest matrimonial basis n
ood-by, dear win. 1t hurts now. per- y
APPS; but believe me. the pain win r
ass" She held out her hand and he
'ok IL dumbly. "
"Will," she cried impulsiyely. c,
'ou're so physically. perfect that / s.
onder it doesn't touch me. re- !"
ember how | used to gloat upon the Il
sauty Of your face-the type is pure D.
reek. Odd isn't it that / can con "
der It quite impersonally now, as ! a
lould a work Of art?" 81
He threw out his arms in a sudden. IL
,sperate gesture. Is
Forgive me, dear" she said gently. o.
know its bitter-but it win not
ST."
Moved by a sudden impulse she
ew tie tall head down and kissed !.
s brow He did not try to speak. u
It the look on his face stirred her =
rd-won calm. His eyes made a last !,
stful dumb appeal. then he touched 4.
= hand with his lips and went away. =
NEhpr fha ol7far door hna riaee7 ,.,.