The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1911-10-27
cHAPTEk xIv.-contInued.

stop. You are on oath now, by
your honor as gentleman, by your
belief in God, by your faith in woman
kind, by your love for me! want the
truth. Indeed. it is almost unneces-
sary for you to speak. Your silence,
everything confirms me in that belief
A man who would do what he bas
done would not hesitate at that But
! must know, and | must have your
answer"
Ard can't tell you"
You can"
We'll, won't then. ! have told
you enough. Anything else you must
get from other people"
And so you refused me?" said the
girl standing up. Look at me-" She
stretched her hands ont and stood
boldly, magnificently. defiantly before
him. You refused me! Many men
have wooed me: many men have
sought me for wife. | did not love
you, | don't love you; but | might
have learned. You might have had
me. You say | am the dearest desire
of your heart A little silence. pa
per torn in two. momentary forget
fulness, and | should have been
yours She picked the paper uD from
the table as she spoke and held it be-
for her Il could tear 1t up in mo-
ment. Think what you might have
had" She stepped slowly around the
table and approached him. She came
nearer to him. fle stared at her fixed
ly without moving She vas by his
side now. She laia her hand upon his
shoulder Me- she said. for this,
and you refused"
He nodded. It was the hardest task
life had ever laid upon him. this lis
cussion.
What are You made of?' she cried.
Il don't know" gasped the man
hoarsely. 81 was a fool!'
"Will you take me now" she inter-
posed swiftly, "and suppress this? If
! say that ! will marry you tomorrow,
will you keep this secret forever
Great God" whispered the man,
"how you tempt met
"Will you do it? Answer"
Mo-" said Gornly family at last.
81 WON'T"
why not?"
For two reasons | would not be
worth your. respect for a moment If
did. ! could never hope for your love
in that case And ! won't have any
woman that have to buy"
And we have both tried to bride
You. my father and |, and we have
both failed"
You did not try to bride me, FL
eanor. l am sure you did not know
what you were doing"
Il did" she said 81 wanted to test
you. | wanted to try you. wanted
80 see e it was true. wanted as
surance that my father had done this
thing. wanted to measure your man
hood by my womanhood. OH she
said in a sudden change of mood, the
light has gone out of life for mel"
MY dear child" he began tenderly.
She shook her head and sat down
once more and once more buried her
face In her hands. He ventured TO
come near to her. He laid his own
hand on her head and stroked it gent
ly, murmuring broken words; mean
ingless, save to her on whose ears
they fell indistinctly. At last she lifted
her head and looked at him. she
caught his hand in both her own.
You are a great man" she said, "a
strong man, true man, and ! am
only a poor. wretched woman. | kiss
the hand that smites me-" Before he
could prevent it she suited the action
to the word. Now she said. go.
You have done all you can. ! under
stand, believe. Sometimes think
I But won't you go now?"
Without another word Gormly turn
ed and left her.
He found Miss Stewart and young
Haldane still In the hall. They stared
az him awestruck at the tragedy IN
his grim face.
Go to her!" he said as he passed
them. "She needs you"