The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-07-11

 THE MAN WHO ROSE AGAIN|
 " ......by...... .IOSEpH ROCKING Copyrioht, 1909, by George H. Doran
 Company
JOSEPH ROCKING
CHAPTER IX.
.....by......
Company

''OlIVe, ne Sa1d presently, you Fe heard strange things about me?"
 She nodded.
 You've believed them?"
 "You have not denied them. But never mind those now. The past is past
 'Is it?" he said moodily. Some times I almost believe it is; but only sometimes. Generally have feel ing that there is no past; that what we call past keeps rising up against us, and cursing us."
 "Radford, you are not we'll"
 "Yes, am. My trouble is that am too happy. Oh, I know what I am talking about. I am too happy. Tomorrow is our wedding-day. Think of it, tomorrow you are to be my wife, you are to be mine-mine. The wedding is to be early, then in the afternoon we are going to drive to London, and take the train for the Continent. We are going to Flor ence, to Rome, to Naples, to Capri, to Corsia. We are going away to sunshine, we are going to miss six weeks of dreary weather, and then when we. return the spring will be here. Think of it, and shall have you. You all the time; you, my wife. Is it a wonder that am too happy?"
 There was a look of pride in the girls eyes. It rejoiced her to feel that she could so arouse this proud, self-contained man, that she could drive his cynicism from him. She thought of the old Leicester, and the new, and her heart grew warm.
 And yet I am miserable" he went on; .I am haunted with a great fear lest all this can never come to pass" :"
 She laughed almost gaily,
 'The wedding dress has been bought" she said, ''and even now our minister, MT. lSackville, is talking with father about the ceremony to- morrow
 "Yes, yes, know, but if there is no past. If it is resurrection-"
 Let us not talk about it," she said. "I have heard all about it, and-wel, have given you my promise"
 "But if I am worse than you thought" he cried; eff you find out something which you cannot forgive. | re fol fhof fraud, a lie, villain?" I should still trust you,,' she said quietly. "You have never told me g. lie, have you?''
 you a lie.''
 "Then I should laugh at what I heard. You have told me that since your Oxford fasco, when that girl tilted you, no woman has in any way ever come into your life." "Yes, have told you that, and it | is true; bad as I may have been | since that time, I have never given any woman, but you thought If there is a God, He knows that my | words are true.''
 | Olive Castlemaine laughed merrily. Then" she said, 'I shall not trou- | ble a little bit about what hear" He looked up into her face, his eyes all afire with the ardour of his love. With her by his side, all things | were possible. He was still a cynic, with regard to others, but he no more doubted Olive than he doubted the sunlight. She was beyond sus- picion, and yet his very faith in her made him fear that the coming day could never fulfill his hopes. "I am not fit that you should be my wife," he said. T know I am not, and yet I would murder the man who tried to take you away from me. Oh, am in earnest; I would. Why, you don't know what you are to me- You are hope, faith, motive power, heaven"
 He started up, and walked away from her as though he were asham- ed to stay by her side. But he quick | ly came back.
 l "Oh yes, I hate professions ot faith,' he went on. 'I despise re- pentent sinners. I would a thousand times rather have to do with a good pronounced blackguard than with your whining convert. And yet ] know l shall be a good fellow with you as my wife. And I never break promises. I was never so mean as that. Oh yes, I was whisky-sodder when I knew you first, and I was g plaything to the habit; but since that day-you remember, OIive-Tve nev. CT touched it, and I never will-no, never wf1l.''
 Olive Castlemaine was a little frightened at the intensity of hi. words; nevertheless, she was proud of her power over her lover. Wha, woman would not be?
 And yet I am removed from you
 Olive. I don't know why, but I fee it. You love me don't you?"
 For answer, she put her hand ir his, and looked steadily into his eyes
 You know, Radford," she said.
 "Yes," he said; ives I know: bu not as I love you. No, no. yo, | oo,Idn,f There's not eno,,oh l.;