The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1912-09-07

me. ] am not quite sure.
1T was because" burst out the
man impetuously, and then he stopped
abruptly and just in time.
Enid Maitland smiled at him In q
way that indicated she knew what
was behind the sudden check he mad
imposed upon himself.
Whatever your reason, your curl
osity-"
Don't call It that, please"
"Your desire then has been graf
flied. Now it Is my turn. / am not
even sure about your name. ] have
seen 1t in these books and naturally
l have imagined that It is yours.
ut Is mille.''
We'll, that is really all that ! know
about you. And now I shall be quite
frank. l want to know more. You
evidently have something to conceal
or you would not be living here in
this way. 1 have never asked you
about yourself. or manifested the
least curiosity to solve the problem
you present, to find the solution OF the
mystery Of your life.
Perhaps" said the man, you
didn't care enough about It to take
the trouble to inquire"
you know" answered the girl,
that is not true. have been con-
sumed with desire to know"
"a woman's curiosity 2"
mot that" was the soft answer
that turned away his wrath.
She was indeed frank. There was
that in her way Of uttering those two
simple words that set his pulses
bounding. He was not altogether and
absolutely blind
Come" said the girl, extending her
hand to him, we are alone here to-
gether. We must help each ether.
You have helped me, you have been
OF the greatest service to me. can't
begin to count all that you have done
for me; my gratitude"
"Only THAR"
"But that Is all that you have ever
asked or expected" answered the
young woman in low voice whose
gentle tones did not at ali accord
with the boldness and courage of the
speech.
"You mean?" asked the man, star
ing at her, his face aaame.
II mean answered the girl swift
~, wilfully misinterpreting and turn
ing his half spoken question another
way, Il mean that am sure that
trouble has brought you here. / dc
not wish to force your confidence,
have no right to do so, yet / should
like to enjoy it; can't you give it to
me? j want to help you, l want tc
do my best to make some return fol-
what you have been to me and have
done for me-"
II ask but one thing" he said quick
| ~.
"And what is that?"
But again he checked himself.
mo" he said, II am not free to ash
anything of you"
And that answer to Enid Maitland
was like a knife thrust In the heart
The two had been standing confront
ing each other. Her heart grew
faint within her. She stretched GU
her hand vaguely as If for support
He stepped toward her, but before hi
reached her, she caught the back o
the chair and sank down weakly
That he should be bound and not FIRE,
had never once, occurred to her; sh,
had quite misinterpreted the meanin,
Of his remark.
The man did not help her, he coul.
not help her. He just stood an,
looked at her. She fought valiantl.
for self-control a moment or two an,
then, utterly oblivious to the betraya
Of her feelings involved In the ques
tion-the moments were too great 70
consideration Of such trivial matter
| she faltered.
/ "You mean there Is some other We
man."
| He shooA his head in negation.
| 81 don't understand There wa
some other woman
Yes
"Where ~ she noW?"
Dead"
"But you said you were not free"
He nodded
did you care so much for her tina
now-that now
| Enid" he cried desperately. ''Bt
lieve me, I never knew what Low
was until | met you"
The secret was out now; 1t ha
been known to her long since, BIT
now 1t was publicly proclaimed.
Even man as blind, as obsessed, a
he could not mistake the joy that !
Illuminated her face at this announc,
ment. That very Joy and satisfactio
produced upon him, however, a yer
, different effect than might have bee
!, anticipated. Had he been free, Il
], deed, he would have swept her to hi
breast and covered her sweet fac
NTH biccoe brnynu bv uy3i srovn