Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-11-02
CHAPTER xIV.-continucd.

stop You are on oath now, by
your honor as a gentleman. by your
belief in Cod, by your faith in woman
kind, by your love for ne! want the
truth Indeed. it IS almost unneces-
5ary for you to speak. Your silence.
everything. confirms me in that belief.
A man who would do what ne has
done would not hesitate at that But
I must know, and I must have your
answer"
and l can't tell you"
You can"
ssWeu, ! won't then. I 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, defantly before
him. 'You refused me! Many men
have wooed me; many men have
sought me for a wife. ! did not love
you, I don't love you; but I might
have learned. You might have had
me. You say I am the dearest desire
OF your heart. A little silence, a pa
per torn In two, a mOmentary forget
fitness, 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 1t up in a 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
II without moving. She was by his
side now. She laid her hand upon his
shoulder. Me" she said, for this
aud you refused!"
He nodded It was the hardest task
life had ever laid upon him. this dis
cussion.
What are you made OFF, she cried
q don't know" gasped the man
hOaTsely. q was a fooIi"
"Will you take me now?" she inter,
posed swiftly, and suppress This? If
say that ! viii marry you tomorrow,
viii you keep this a secret forever?"
Great God" whispered the man,
how you tempt me-"
win you do it? Answer"
MOI" said Gormly family at last
Il WON'T"
why not?"
For two reasons. I would not be
worth your respect for a moment if ]
did. could never hope for your love
in that case. And ! won't have any
woman that I have to buy"
And we have both tried to bride
YOU, my father and I, and we have
both failed
you did not try to bribe me. Ell
oanor. l am sure you did not know
what you were doing"
II did" she said 4 wanted to test
you, I wanted to try you. / wanted
to see g it was true. I 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
Eight has gone out Of life for mel"
My dear child" he began tenderly
She shook her head and sat down
once more and once more buried her
sace in her hands. He yeptured tc
come near TO her. He laid his OWE
Z
-, murmuring broken words, mean
ingless. 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 a great man" she said, IS
strong man, q true man. and an
only a poor, wretched woman. / kiss
Che hand that smites me" Before he
could prevent it she suited the action
to the word Nov" she said. go
You have done all you can. I under
stand, 7 believe, Sometimes / thinb
+ But won't you so now7''
Without another word Gormly turn
ed and left her.
He found Miss Stewart and young
Haldaue still in the hall. They stared
at him ewestruck at the tragedy il
mis- grim face
Go to hert" he said as he passes
them. she needs you"