The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1911-03-15
|0UT OF THE NIGHT A WARNING TO MANY
CONTINUED FROM PAGE THREE

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knew. She was your wife :"
| There was silence.
IF | wished to keep it from you,
it was on account OF her request
only" he hoarsely replied at length.
She begged that it might not be
known
You saw herr"
Il saw her. In your aunt's drawing
room at Carronlea."
And spoke to her? You convers-
ed?"
we mad some talk-yes."
And she knew that you meant
to expose her? You would have ex-
posed herr"
He made no reply.
And she went home and killed
herself repeated Vernon monoto-
nously. You drove her to it."
Vernon, that's cruelty unfair"
She stood there mute. This further
thread seemed to entangle more than
ever the knot of Destiny. 20 Spirits
OF the Waste and Weald Why did
you lead me to her door that fatal
night?"
In silence, in the space of some
palpitating seconds, Vernon finally
accomplished her growing up.
She recalled Evelyn's saying about
the split evil
Her respite was not long. Lionel
was coming nearer, with his jaw
obstinately set and a gleam in his
eye that showed he meant to con
quer
'Verncn," he said, very distinctly,
this makes no difference-no differ.
ence at alas between you and me. "
She stared at him vacantly.
Il don't know. | can't see. | must
think"
He swore at last. mo, by God, that
is just what you must not, shall not
DO. I'll have my answer, once for
all, here and now. Either you love
me, or you don't. Either you'll have
me, or you won't! Chuck all this
coquetting, Vernon, it isn't worthy
OF you-give me my answer plainly
and at once"
Girls, he argued, are shy, wild
things, 10 be captured by force ma.
1eure-taken by storm. You may 90
on entreating forever. But once a
girl feels your lips on her own
she knows her master
In pursuance of this fatal theory
he gripped Vernon by both hands
and drew her to him.
She exerted all her strength and
looked wildly about for escape.
And her strained eyes fell upon
uhe flgure of man strolling slowly
into view from behind the tall
sedges that hid the further shore O.
the lake.
Come here please" she called
out clearE and without hesitation;
and then, with recognition, she cried
again. and with a new meaning. a
great urgency, in her voice, "Jem,
Come here, come here, want vou,"
Inc moment she cried out. Lionel
dropped her hands. What are Won
doing, Vernon? Are you mad?" he
Indignantly demanded. Cant Won
trust me?"
No, it seems that | cannot" she
hotly replied. DO you think that
am going to fight with you. in
oruer to prevent your doing what |
dislike and have asked you not TO
do?"
'Jem!' he cried, in furious anger
And who is Jem, who is lettering
around so conveniently"
Jem by this time had come nm
with a considerable quickening of
MS pace, when he heard Vernons
appeal. He was pale as death. but
quite composed, and he answered
LioneIs question promptly.
'em Bardsley, at your service.
sir"
How dare You intrude upon a
private interview, sir?" vociferated
Lionel too much annoyed to be
wise or reasonable.
THIS common is not private" re-
piled Jem in even tones. Had | !
known that Miss Wilmot had made |
an appointment here, would not |
have intruded."
Il made no appointment" said