Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1911-05-04
Copyright. 1910. by Doubleday. Page &
Company. Copyright. 1908. by
the Mcclure Company

I1C - company
you're alive and not injured. Yes,
that's enough for me-its got to be
enough, and l ought to be happy
though you're going to belong to an
other man."
"You wouldn't have wanted to mar
ry me. anyway" said Lesley.
"I wouldn't have wanted to-when
it's the thing I'd give all but n year
of my life for-the one year I'd keep
to be happy in with you"
Just a poor little humble story
writer, and you would really like to
marry herY
Don't torture me-" said Loveland.
give had about all I can stand. If l
were the impostor you think me-
81 don't think you an impostor," re.
piled Lesley. beginning to speak in
quite a natural tone Of voice again,
though she kept the support of Love.
lands arm. Il never said l did. !
only asked you once why l should
have more faith in you than others
had. But I'd be ready to take you on
faith if you were ready to take me
without a fortune"
The blood rushed to Loveland's face
which had been pale and drawn. SIS
it true-do you mean it" he STAN.
mered. "Do you care for me a little?"
"a great DEAL" said Lesley, ''toc
much. l used to think on the ship, but
I don't think so now, because you're
different. It's the real you 1 loved al
the time. The miracles happened, you
know. Pm seeing the other side OF
the moon. But wouldn't it be doins
you an injury to marry you when yor
and your family counted on a great
heiressY
1T was the other me who hadn'
the sense to see what a beastly, cad
dish thing it would be to marry a CIR
just because she was rich-a girl
didn't love-" Val hurried on. "Oh
Lesley, you're not playing with me
are you? l couldn't marry any othel
woman but you"
"What about the old family hom,
that's tumbling to ruin?"
1T will have to tumble"
"And your family"
"There's only my mother. and wha
she wants most is my happiness. NJ
love for you has somehow shown m
how to appreciate her more. But
Lesley, what about Sidney Cremer
Do you care enough for me-a mar
you say you're taking on faith'-tt
give up all Cremer's money and t
throw him over for my sake?"
II can't throw him over"
"Then how can we be married?"
"And I can't give up his money" she
added.
Lesley, have you raised me up onl,
to let me fall deeper into the pit thar
ever?"
1--WE both fell into the pit together
didn't me?" she said. laughing a lit
tie. IF you go deeper I'll go deeper
too. for we're going to stand or fall
together now"
"Then what do you mean?" asked
Val. you'll have to send n of us
away-me or Sidney Cremer."
"Let me sit up and We'll talk II
over" said Lesley, with a quaint
cheerfulness and matter-of-fact-ness
that utterly bewildered Loveland. 81
feel 81 we'll and so happy now that
I believe I a find my way out Of
any ENHANCEMENT so long as we &C
hand in hand"
Val, resting or n knee, took the
little gray mitten that she held out tt
him and pressed the hand in it. But
there was bitterness in his voice as
he answered: "This is an entangle
ment that you'll find no way out Of
You can't keep us BOTH"
"You don't trust 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 tt
the end"
II shan't decide to give you up
Nothing can make me do that now,'
Loveland said. "It's Cremer who'll
have to 60 to the wall"
Lesley laughed. Like his motor
Poor. poor car! Pm sorry for it, but
it hasn't sacrificed itself in vain. ]
was beginning to wonder how on eartt
to bring all this about. That was
what kept me awake last night, if Tn
to tell the whole truth. 1t had to come
some way. and it had to come soon
Well. Sidney's motorcar has solved the
difficulty. and Sidney will be glad, fol
my happiness is the same to him as
his own. And now I've gone so fal
T may as well confess that from the
very minute I saw you play Lord Bot
in that dingy little hall at Ashville
hoped-oh, but hoped more than any
thing that you would ask me to mar
ry you! Please. please. don't be shock
ed. but I invited you to come here just
for that"
"Yet you were engaged to Sidney
Cremer." he said, half to himself.
q" was bound to Sidney just as !
l - Nnyx ~nI k..~k 49,. ~-