The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser., 1910-11-11

one but mel"
Dare, for Heavens sake, speak,
Is this true?" Gervais broke in wildly.
Dare hesitated moment; he had
no knowledge of what this mystery
meant, but he saw that Enid was de-
nouncing herself to screen another
person, and that she called on him
to help her, as he had wished she
might do that first day he ever saw
her.
This is a horrible position, but
suppose I must speak, Miss Leslie.
You are right" he said, slowly. and
| with much difficulty.
And you gave my wife's name as
your own?" said Gervais, looking at
Enid with contempt and disgust.
You dared to do this thing?"
"Yes," she faltered, shrinking
from the cold, cruel gaze of his clear
eyes. "I-I dared to do it."
Gervais waited a moment.
81 have nothing more to say TO you.
Miss Leslie, except that I should pre-
fer that my wife did not come too
much in contact with you. l thought
you so frank, so pure and good, and I
find you false and deceitful. What
ever your shameful secret may be, it
is nothing to me; but you must see
for yourself that Lady Derriman's
house can be your home no longer!"
With that G rvs.is pushed past the
girls trembling form, and Dare's up
right one with the dark face dyed
l.
these words, and strode quickly away.
Enid gave little cry and buried
her face in her hands as he went.
Miss Leslie! Enid! What does
this all mean: In Heavens name,
tell me all, for l confess 1 do not COM
prehend one single scrap of it,"
Enid lifted her face; it was tear
less. but as white as the snow around
them.
1T means that have saved him
from the blacklist despair, the most
awful misery. Heaven forgive me for
telling the lie, but I did it for the
best-I did il for the BEST"
Il see." Dare stopped and took
the letter from her icy, cramped
fingers, and soon made himself mas
ter of the contents, then he drew
deep breath. MY angel" he said
with infinite tenderness, you've done
this to screen your cousin2 Oh, Enid,
Enid, my darling!"
She did not hear his voice or his
loving words; her ears were ringing
with the horrible ones that Gervais
had uttered. He scorned her, pushed
her aside with contempt and loathing.
Truly the sacrifice was a great one
how great she scarcely yet knew.
He believed me-" she said. in
dazed sort of way; "he believed me.
and-they will still be happy. 1t
would have been so terrible if he
had thought it true"
Dare took her two small hands in
his.
Think Of yourself little, my
dear one," he said, tenderly. Re
member your future. What are you
going to do?"
What am I going to do?" Enid re-
peated, slowly; then more hurriedly:
Il am going away at once-this very
afternoon. Please let me go, Mr..
Broughton. l must be quick; it is
late. You-you were very good TO
help me just now"
Enid was crying bitterly; the tears
were stealing down her cheeks.
Leave me-, J" she whispered, broken
ly; Il will come DIRECTLY"
He wrapped the warm plaid closely
round her, and looking back as he
turned obediently away, he saw that
she was shaking with the passion of
sobs that came from her broken
heart. His arms longed with an in
expressible longing to draw her to his
heart, and SO hold her clasped against
all sorrow, but he restrained himself,
and despite his bitter disappointment,
made no further effort to press his
suit.
It was unmanly, he thought, to
urge it while she was so agitated
and weak.
Il will wait for you by the gate"
he said, gently.
Enid crouched down as he disaps
peared; she rocked herself to and fro,
her grief was so great, her mental
agony so terrible.
Heaven forgive me for this sim" J"
she moaned out loud. 1T was to save
you, Gervais, to save you, my dar-
ling, and you did not know-you
shall never know it! must go away.
and I shall never see you again. Ger
vais; but / have saved you. and that
Is all I need!"
The whisper was caught on the
wintry wind and carried away. and
Enid still wept on, but after awhile
her tears ceased and she rose from
her cramped position.
1T is good-by." she said, brokenly
to herself, as she moved with diff
ficulty along the snow-covered path;
"good-by forever"
AS she went slowly away. man
came from behind the clump of trees
and stood looking after her.
For my sake." he repeated. in a
low voice. For my sake. and l said
such cruel things to her! Oh, my
poor child, what a heart is yours,
and how / have been mistaken!
| Would Dorothy have sacrificed her.
self like this?" He shook his head;
his mad passion had gone. his face
was set with grim, determined look.
"Dorothy-my wife-the woman l
| have worshiped-false to her honor
and to her name! Well, the end
has come; the scales have fallen
! from my eyes. Heaven knows
what my life will be; she has
| destroyed all faith and trust. and
! shaken my great love to its very
roots. l must know all, be it as black
| as hades itself. | have been walking
! blindfold-poor, miserable fool; now
| must see, even if it break my heart"
CHAPTER xviii.
At Deaths Door.
Enid had managed to get to her
! room without attracting nue. atten-