Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1910-08-05
Sand Won don't trust me?"

An - @S0s 0AA AOS
was. 1 did not realize It. l came
back in the first place as much be-
cause 1 had been a BLACKBOARD and a
coward and wanted to set myself right
in your eyes as because l cared for
you, but every hour of search made
me know my own heart, and since
have seer you, since l see you now,
there is nothing l would not do for
you. There isn't any e~xpiation or
amendment or anything now, but be-
cause l am a man, and love you, L
van you. 1 want to make o happy.
l am the one man in the world
that ought to want you and want to
make you happy. 1t is for that l have
come back to you"
How terrible are the arrangements
of blind fate" said the woman. Il
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 a you love me, nay, then, just as
you do and more a thousand times,
I love that man. 1t would be a crime,
a sin, a bodily proclamation, a mental
and spiritual degradation to which the
knew to what she alluded
as she paused-"were nothing, If l
should come to o 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 I would be
loved, l admit, not as, please God, /
shall be loved by him. He doesn't
know; he doesn't understand. Wis
don will come to him and he will
come back"
1T might be So" said the man. Il
came back. But he believes you
dead"
And didn't you when you searched
for me during those three years?"
NO." answered L%angford, II had a
confident hope hat somewhere you
were alive"
And will he not have that hope,
too?"
Il cannot believe It,
There was a long, frightful pause.
The woman sighed deeply.
1T may be a. you a 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, I shall
love his memory until l meet him, If
SO be 1 may be found worthy Of that,
and l 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 1t cast over Langford
a 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 a have you bound hand
and foot and take you aboard of her.
I 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 60"
Valentine" said the oma quiet
ly, III you 10 not instantly release
me-, 1 will kill you where you stand.
You don't realize how strong 1 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 han a 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. II
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
xiii me II you WISH" said the man
recklessly. Il don't care. Perhaps
that would be the better way"
NO" said the woman, II 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 1 too love, and it seems to
me that l would brook anything, ev-
erything, for one ONE like that
you fain would have enjoyed. But we
are not children, neither are we saw.
ages to act like beasts Of prey. l for
give you, l trust you" She came
close to him and laid her hand upon
his arm. 81 respect you, 1 admire
you!"
Everything" said the man, but
love me-"
Everything but that" assented the
woman quietly.
II shan't offend again" returned
the man Neither hY force nor nar