El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-10-28

shameful-my happiness was not in
volved, Mr.. McAdoo."
He shook his head gravely. "It
might have been. He was very low
able" he used the past tense in which
we speak Of the dead.
Again their eyes fell apart and there
was a silence. She forced herself to
speak.
You have learned the lesson Of
generosity well, Mr.. McAdoo"
az have to earn the charity that has
been given me-from every one-now
from you. I was cruel, brutal, to you
yet you could come here. Doesn't
that prove that you, too, have forgiven
much-far more than %
NO! For what you said was true,
And was afraid to come-afraid Of
your judgment! You make me the
more ashamed
"Don'tP he cried sharply, as if IN
pain. ct hurts to see you abase your
self before mer'
Again a silence, while his eyes held
hers. The quality Of his gaze frlghten-
ed her. It was saying too much
breaking down her self command,
drawing her to him. She spoke hastily.
Mr.. McAdoo, do you know that he
has disappearedY
She saw then the hurt that had been
put upon him. Yes. I have tried to
have him found. but they can discover
no trace Of him. But I viii not give
up until he is found-and our fault
repaired" He used the plural uncon-
sciOUsly.
when you find him viii you let me
know2 shall send an address TO
the Dunmeades.D
you are going aWay?"
YES; tomorrow"
"And you viii not come hack" He
did not ask a question.
He turned once more to look out into
the street But he saw nothing there
He was measuring the meaning Of the
moment. She had changed. as had he;
he felt It in her every word, in her
presence. Yet her humility hurt him
strangely. He had many things to
make up to her'-and he would never
have the chance; she was going away.
out Of his life. as suddenly as she had
come. Both feared the next meeting
Of eyes. Each had a secret that must
be withheld. Yet by that telepathy
which informs hearts even across the
1f-to-oo- ooh ~-r-o--o1 fFo ,+bsrs- 60
cret knew that the frank intimacy Of
the moment sprang from more than a
common regret, was more than the
death Of an unreasoning hostility. But
they were not children. Both knew
that before Hfe's happiness comes
LIES responsibility and that they, in
their game Of cross purposes, had as
sumed a responsibility which was not
yet fulfilled
She rose. He. too, got to his feet
She held out her ungloved hand He
took it again in his strong clasp. Her
lips tried to fashion a conventional
farewell.
81 hope you viii soon get your
strength back and that you viii be
successful always-and happy" at
the last words her voice began to fall
ter.
Il pray that life will be kinder to
you than it has been. Mrs. Gilbert
And that you viii forget all this-and
me" Unsteadiness was in his voice
too.
"Can we forgetT'
81 don't want to forget" he cried
Nor do I want to forget" The Grim
son flooded to her cheeks. But the IN
ruly tongue ran on. Il couldn't forget
If I would, That night. when we
thought you were dying-it is before
me always. When ! saw you lying
there It seemed to me that 1 had struck
you down
You were here! I don't understand.
You came
"Ah. can't you see? I had to come
to make my acknowledgement.
thought you were dying. Miss Finn
was nearest to you. ] told her. She
made me promise to come to you when
you were able. That is why am here
now"
She would have withdrawn her hand.
but his clasp frightened. 4 don't IN
derstand. You cared enough to
come
"Ah. can't you see?" she cried pite-
Ously.
why did you come into my life-tO
teach me my lessOn-tO go away now?
Why, since you must go away, were /
you chosen by the force, which is
Before him flashed the interpreta- /
ton Of the past few months. OF the
memory that had outlived the busy,
crowded years. His face lighted up