The Point Pleasant register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, W. Va.) 1909-1939, 1910-05-11

turned slightly paler and. folding MS
arms. just looked at her, in silence
There was an awkward pause.
At last she said:
Il hope you understand that every
things over between US. Our ae-
quaintance is at an end"
MY feelings toward you can never
change" replied Underwood earnest.
ly. 4 love you'll shall always love
you"
Alicia gave a little shrug of her
shoulders. expressive Of utter indtrer-
ence.
~Love!" she exclaimed mOckinsly.
you love no one but yourself"
Underwood advanced nearer to her
and there was tremor in his voice
as he said:
You have no right to say that You
remember what We once were. Whose
fault is It that I am where am to-
day? When you broke our engage
ment and married old Jeffries to graft
fy your social ambition. you ruined my
life. You didn't destroy my love-you
couldn't kill that. You may forbid me
everything-to see you-to speak to
you-even to think of you. but can
never forget that you are the only
woman I ever cared for. II you had
married me. might have been a diff
ferent man. And now. just when
want you most. you deny me even your
friendship. What have done TO de-
serve such treatment? Is 1t fair? Is
it just?"
Alicia had listened with growing I'M
patience. 1t was only with difficulty
that she contained herself. Now she
interrupted him holly:
Il broke my engagement with you
because I found that you were deceiv-
ing me-just as you deceived others"
It's lie!" broke in Underwood. Il
may have trifed with others. but
never deceived you"
Alicia rose and, crossing the room,
carelessly inspected one of the pic.
lures on the wall, study of the nude
by Bouguereau.
I'VE need not go into that" she said
haughtly That is all over now. I
came 10 ask you what this letter-this
thTeat-means. What do you expect
to gain by taking your life unless I
continue to be your friend? How can
be friend TO a man like you? You
know what your friendship for a wom-
an means. It means that you would
drag her down to your own level and
disgrace her as well as yourself.
Thank God. my eyes are now opened
to your true character. No self-re.
speeding woman could afford to allow
her name to be associated with yours
You are as incapable OF disinterested
friendship as you are OF common hon.
esty." Colby she added: II hope you
Grite understand that henceforth my
house is closed 10 you. If we happen
20 meet in public, 1t must be as stran.
gers"
Underwood did not speak. Words
seemed TO fail him. His face was set
and white. A nervous twi;chIng about
the mouth showed the terrible menta,
strain which the man was under. In
the excitement he had forgotten about
Howard's presence on the divan be-
hind the screen. a listener might have
detected the heavy breathing OF the
sleeper. but even Alicia herself was
too preoccupied to notice It. Under
wood extended his arms pleadingly:
"Alicia-for the sake OF aud lang
synv!"
Aud lang syne." she retorted. II
want to forget the past. The old, mem
cries are distasteful. My only object
in coming here tonight was to make
the situation plain to you and TO ask
you to promise me not to-carry out
your threat to kill yourself. Why
should you kill yourself? Only towards
do that. Because you are in trouble?
That is the towards way out. Leave
New York. Go where you are not
known. You are still young. Begin
life over again, somewhere else" Ad.
yancing toward him, she went on:
If you will do this will help you.
never want TO see you again. but I'll