The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1911-03-13

was It? Why were they so haunting
Why was she filed with kind of ex-
haustion which yet was ecstasy?
Now, If only can put my finger
on the last link, and truly understand
him. Father Conroy said he had
been misunderstood. Well, at least
can honestly say that have tried"
She glanced at Lionel's letter. II
was most unlike his usual style
bald, hasty, disconnected. What news
could he have heard? She remember
ed that he had received letter that
morning. Why-of course! his sudden
illness was the result of the news in
the letter. What could 1t have been?
On, she knew, she knew! The an
guish that grasped her heart and
twisted it told her that she knew. AS
II somebody had brought her the
news, she knew that he had heard Of
his wife's death.
And If he was free. her duty
was clear Putting behind her all her
own desires, she must marry him, de-
vote her life to trying to keep her mar
riage VOWS. She owed this to Jem and
to Aunt Emma If she was married
to Lionel, Jem would not go away.
God was demanding this sacrifice at
her hands. She had been too happy.
Life was too much as she wished 1t.
She was called upon to surrender
what?
What hope was it, what desire,
which lay right at the bottom of her
heart. unknown to her until this mo-
ment? What was the meaning of this
solicitude of hers for Jem's friendship?
Did anything. in fact, matter to her.
in comparison OF this one point-of
Jem's opinion?
Horror crept over her. Was it pos
sible that she was growing to love
man who had never loved her?-not
only that, but had openly showed his
dislike, his disapproval? If this were
So then there was no way out but
to marry Lionel. and hide from ev-
erybody the secret of her own humil-
iiaton. Yes, she saw it all. And it
had been going on for quite long
time, unsuspected. She had listened
for his footstep, her heart had quick
ened at his approach; she had Shrek
ed for him when she hung between
life and death upon the castle wall.
And she had not known It,
Forgetting her toilette, forgetting
everything in the world but this self
revelation, she sat absorbing 1t, living
over again every word that Jem and
she had exchanged during the past
month, every infection of his voice,
each expression of his face; confront
ing the dreadful certainty of her un-
requited love.
The maid entering with hot water
at last broke up her reverie. She was
admonished, unlocked, brushed, ar
rayed, and sent down only a minute
or two after the sounding of the gong.
Where's Jem?" asked Mrs. Bard
sley, as she took her seat. Il do wish
he would be more punctual."
"Mr. Bardsley asked me to say,
maam, that he had gone over to Wish
field, and should have some supper
with Mr. Conroy, and not be back un-
til late"
Respite for Vernon! Respite! A
clear evening in which she could sit
and contemplate the contents of her
own heart, and reiterate her duty to
herself and her aunt and Jem.
But she could not move in the mat
ter as yet. SO far, it was but her idea.
That actual news received by Lionel
was a matter of mere guesswork. Un'
til she heard again from him she
could do nothing.
Again she passed sleepless night
she. whose clear eyes usually clos
ed as her curly head touched the pill
low! Thoughts of these three people
Lionel. Jem, and Laura Trent-danced
| before her brain.
She came to breakfast with darf
purple undertakings to those shining
eyes. But Mrs. Bardsley herself hat
passed a most disturbed night. as
result of the terrible news from Bar
row End; and thought that such
dreadful occurrence in their quie
neighborhood was a full excuse FOL
| reStlessness