Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1911-10-05
CHAPTER xIv.-contInusd.

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. 1t is almost unneces-
sary for you to speak. Your silence.
everything. confirms me in that belief.
A man who would do what be has
done would not hesitate at that But
I must know. and must have your
answer"
"And can't tell you
you can"
well. 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 mel" She
stretched her hands out and stood
boldly. magnifcently. deflantly before
him. "You refused me! Many men
have wooed me; many men have
sought me for q wife. did not love
you. ! don't love you: but I 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, q momentary forget
fulness, and / should have been
yours" She picked the paper up from
the table as she spoke and held It be-
for her. Il could tear It up in mo-
ment Think what you might have
had" She stepped slowly around the
table and approached him. She came
nearer to him. He stared at her fixed
ly without moving. She was by his
side now. She laid 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 dis
cussion
Il don't know" gasped the man
hoarsely. Il was fool"
'Will you take me nowY she inter-
posed swiftly. "and suppress this7 II
/ say that will marry you tomorrow.
win you keep this a secret foreverf'
Great God!" whispered the man.
~how you tempt mel"
'Wni you do It? Answer!"
mol said 1ormly family at last.
Il WON'T"
why notf"
For two reasons. would not be
worth your respect for a moment II I
aid. 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 bribe
you. my father and I. and we have
both failed"
You did not try to bride me. e.
eanor. ] am sure you did not know
what You were doing"
Il did, she said. II wanted to test
you. wanted to try you. wanted
TO see X 1t was true. wanted as
surance that my father had done this
thing ] wanted to measure your man.
hood by my womanhood. Obi" she
said in sudden change Of mood. the
light has gone out Of life for mel"
MY dear child" no 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 II gent
". murmuring broken words; mean
ingiess. 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 great man." she said. "a
strong man. true man. and l am
only q poor. wretched woman. kiss
the hand that smites me-" Before he
could prevent 1t she suited the action
to the word. Now" she said. go.
You have done all you can. l under
stand. believe. Sometimes think
II But won't you 60 nowf''
Without another word Gormly turn
Cd and left her.
He found Miss Stewart and young
Haldane still in the hall. They stared
at him awestruck at the tragedy In
his grim face.
60 to her!" he said as he passed
them "She needs you"