The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-08-10
(Continued.)

were JuQSe SutlnS eVlueIlce.
 "Yes, but when I accused him of having admitted to those-men, less han a month before the wedding lay, that he only sought to win the wager, he could not deny it."
 And then you cast him off" 'I told him I would never see him lgain.''
 And he-what became of him ? Ah, yes, you told me, he dragged TOUT name before a public meeting, le fell down drunk on the platform tt a public meeting-and then he committed suicide" "Yes." She shuddered as she rpoke: she never felt the tragedy of he circumstances as she felt it now. And before the day fixed for your wedding, you promised never to marry another man?"
 "Yes."
 "And that is the reason why you nave never married?"
 She did not resent this mode of putting questions to her. Somehow ,he felt he had the right. He had lsked her to be his wife, and he had he right to know. Besides, she was strangely wrought upon. If he had not slept the previous night, neither lad she.
 "Yes,-no," she answered-"that is. have never met any one that .ared for-enough to marry.
 Then you love this man-Leicester -still?" s-1ssizs: 'No."
 sHe is nothing to you now?"
 "No,. I do not think so."
 You have never felt that you treated him harshly, unfairly; that you did not give him a chance of proving to you that his love was real?"
 'What could I dor" she asked. No woman with self-respect could consent to be treated in such way. He had deceived me once. how could [ trust him again?"
 How indeedf"
 She looked at him quickly. She could not understand the tone of his voice,eand again great fear possess ed her. He seemed to have master ed her will, rather than her heart. She stood almost in awe of this man whose life was still a mystery to her, ;x~ YJn 0Yr1d ,nt understand, made her feel that he was all the world to her. For he had done this, and yet in her heart of hearts she did not feel that she loved him.
 Did it ever strike you," he went on, that this man-Leicester, I think you call him-did not commit sui cide?'
 "But he did"
 How do you know?"
 "The papers, the coroner's inquest, the-that is, there could be no dobt. Letters addressed to him were found Dn his dead body
 ''I was only considering it from the standpoint of one who is terribly in- terested in all this, more interested than even you can think. For your norina; you can imagine that. How can it be otherwise, when your an- swer to my plea means so much ? For let me tell you this, although
  than anything you can dream of, I would not marry a woman half of whose heart was buried in the grave of another man. May l ask you an- other question, signorina ?"
 She. nodded her head, wondering and fearing, she knew not why, what it would. be.
 Suppose this man were not dead, supposing he is still alive. and were to come back, repentant perhaps, and reformed-would you marry him now?"
 NO, no, never" She uttered the 2 words eagerly.
 He is nothing to you now?"
 "His memory is a black shadow on my life.'
 "But only a shadow?"
 "That is all"
 "In a sense, you have forgotten him then?"
 "Yes, he has-lately become-as- as nothing to me-"
 Since how long?">
 She did not answer.
 "Signorina,'' and he spoke very gently, ''is it since-since that day spoke to you first up on the hills yonder?''
 She did not reply, but she knew that his question contained the truth. You will be my wife, signorina Forgive me if I cannot tell you all that is in my heart. But it is the dearest wish of my life-nay more, all I hope for, all live for, depends on your answer. Let that story be forgotten. There it is gone for ever. Tell me that you will be my wife,
 "But my promise she said weak ly.
 Your promise-what is it?" he laughed, "A promise made in a