The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1910-12-29

ry me. anyway" said Lesley.
II wouldn't have wanted to-when
it's the thing I'd give all but one year
of my life for-the one year I'd keep
to be happy in with you"
"Just poor little humble story
writer, and you would really like to
marry hcrY
Don't torture me-" said Loveland.
I've had about all can stand. II
were the innpostor you think me-
Il don't think you an impostor,' re-
piled Lesley. beginning to speak in
quite natural tone Of voice again,
though She kept the support OF Love
lands arm. II never said did. /
only asked you once Why SHOULD
have more faith In you than others
had. But I'd be ready to take you on
| faith II you were ready to take me
without fortune"
The blood rushed to Loveland's face,
which had been pale and drawn. .Is
it true do you mean TIP he STAN.
mered. do you care for me littley
"a great deal.' said Lesley. too
much, / used to think on the ship. but
don't think SO now, because you're
different. It's the real you ! loved all
the time. The miracles happened. you
know. I'm seeing the other side Of
the moon. But wouldn't 1t be doing
you an injury to marry you when you
and your family counted on great
heiressT
ut was the other me who hadn't
the sense to see what beastly. cad
dish thing it would be to marry a girl
| just because she was rich--a girl
didn't love-" Val hurried. on. "Oh.
Lesley. you're not playing with me.
are you? / couldn't marry any other
woman but you"
what about the old iamily home
that's tlmbiing to ruIpr
at will have to tumble"
"And your familyi"
sThere's only my mother. and what
she wants most is my. happiness. My
love for you has somehow shown me
how to, appreciate her more. But.
Lesley, what about Sidney Cremeri
Do you care enough for me-a man
you say you're taking on faith'-to
give up all Crcmer's money and to
throw him over for my sakey
Il can't throw him over"
"Then how can We be marriedT.
"And can't give up his money" she
added.
Lesley, have you raised me up only
to let me fall deeper into the pit than
everY' ~
I'VE both fell into the pit together.
didn't me?r she said. laughing a lit.
tie. "Ifyou go deeper III 60 deeper.
too, for we're going 10 stand or fall
together fpow."
Then swhat do you meany asked
VA. 'Ypu'll have to send one Of US
away-me or Sidney Cremer'
"Let me sit mp and wen talk It
over" said Lesley, with quaint
cheerfulness aud matter-of-fact-ness
that utterly bewildered Loveland- II
fee. 50. well and SO. happy now that
4 believe I can find my way out Of
any ENHANCEMENT 500 long as We 60
hand In hand" III
4 Val, resting on, ono knee. took the
little gray mitten thatyshc held out to
him and pressed the hand IN II. But
there WINS bitterness in his voice as
he answered: This Is On entangle-
ment that you'll findino way out Of.
You can't keep us both"
"You don't trus. me-. Lesley re-
preached him. "Just wait before de-
Gliding TO give me up until we've thor
oughly thrashed things out. beginning
at the beginning and going right on to
the end"
Il shan't decide 10 give you mp.
Nothing can make me do that now"
Loveland said. Its Cremer who'll
have 10 90 10 the wall"
Lesley laughed. like his motor.
Poor. poor carl I'm sorry for II. but
Il hasn't sacrificed itself In vain. I
was beginning 20 wonder how on earth
to bring all this about. That was
what kept me awake last night. II I'm
to tell the whole truth. II had to come
some way. and II had 20 come soon.
Well. Sidney's motorcar has solved the
difficulty. and Sidney viii be glad. for
my happiness is the same TO him rs
his own. And now I've gone so far
I may as well confess that from the
very minute I saw you play Lord Bob
in that dingy little hall ut Ashville
hoped-oh. but hoped more than any
thing that you would ask me TO mar
~ you, Please. please. don't be shock
ed. but invited you TO come here Just
| for that"
yet you were engaged to Sidney
Cremer." he said, half to himself.
IL was bound TO Sidney Just as
am now and Just as I have been for
the last three years And wasn't
tired of him then. not a BIT. and I'm
not even at this minute. But I love
you-the real you"
"Darlingw exclaimed Loveland. Yet
he marveied at .her. This was phase
Of the gifts charactcr-her true and
II 49,.