The Washington herald., 1911-08-14
CHAPTER XII-Continued.

81 have told you, am alone here.
I have told you, I've been alone, all
my life, until you came. Isn't that
enough?'
Yes; you've said that; but that was
not the truth"
1T depends upon what you mean by
the truth
The man who could do what you have
done with me would not stop at any
thing. How could I believe a word you
said?" Then, on the instant, much as
she had cause to hate him, she half
regretted her speech. She saw a swift
florid skin. He moved his lips, but
did not speak. 1t was quite a while be-
fore he made reply.
That isn't just" he said quietly. "I
wouldn't lie to you, not even to get you.
If that's the way you feel about me- I
reckon there couldn't, after all, be much
between us. I've got all the sins and
faults Of the world, but not just that
one. don't lie
Then tell me-"
mo. You've not earned it. What would
be the use, il you didn't believe what
said?'' -.-..
He held up the faded things before
his eyes, turning them over calmly,
looking at them directly, unshrinkingly
She could not read what was in his
mind Either he had courage or long
accustomedness, she thought.
Il asked Sally she half smiled.
"Yes?"
"And I'll ask her again. I don't want
I can't have, IA room which belongs
to another woman, which has belonged to
another. I've not, all my life, been used
to-that sort of place, myself, you see"
You are entitled to first place, madam.
wherever you are. I don't know what
you have been" He pointed to her own
garments, which lay across chair. you
don't know what she has been:" he in
dicated these that he held in his hand.
VERY well. What could a mere liar,
a coward. do to arrange an understand
ing between two women so mysterious?
You sprang from the earth, from the
sea, somewhere, do not know how. You
are the first woman for me. Is 1t not
enough?"
'T told Sally, it might have been q sis
ter, yorr mother
Dead long ago. Out there" He nod
ded to the window.
''Which?" she demanded.
He turned to her full now, and put out
a hand, touching the coverlid timidly
almost. You are ill,'' he said. Your
eyes shine. know. It's the fever. It
isn't any time now for you to talk. Be-
sides, until you believe me, I cannot
talk with you any more I've been a
little rough, maybe, I don't know; but
as God made this world, those trees.
that sun yonder, I never said word to
you yet that wasn't true. I've never
wanted of you what wasn't right, in my
own creed. Sometimes we have to frame
up creed all for ourselves. don't you
know that? The world isn't always run
on the same lines everywhere. It's differ
ent, In places"
"will you tell me all about it-about
her. some timer"
"If you are going away. why should
you ask that: II you are going to be
nothing to me, in all the world,
what right have you to ask that of me?
You would not have the right I've had
in speaking to you as have. That was
right. II was the right Of love. love
you'll don't care IL all the world knows
1t. Let that girl there hear II she likes.
I've said, we belong together, and II seems
truth to me, the very truth; yes. and the
very right ifself. But some way, we
hurt each other, don't wei Look at you.
there, suffering. My fault. And I'd rath-
er 1t had cost me limb than to see
you hurt that way. It cuts my heart.
can't rest over It. And you hurt me.
too, I reckon, about ~ bad as anything
can. Maybe you hurt me more than you
know. But - to our rights to anything
back oe the curtain that's before US. be-
fore your NE ana mine, why. ] can't be-
81 uneA something siss has begun. 1rs