The Springfield herald., 1912-07-26

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 aflame.
Il mean." answered the girl swift
ly. wilfully misinterpreting and turn
ing his half spoken question another
way, Il mean that l am sure that
trouble has brought you here. l do
not wish to force your confidence,
have no right to do SO, yet should
like to enjoy it; can't you give 1t to
me? want to help you, want to
do my best to make some return for
what you have been to me and have
done for me-"
Il ask but one thing" he said quick.
ly.
And what Is that?"
But again he checked himself
NO" he said, II am not free to ask
anything Of you"
And that answer to Enid Maitland
was like knife thrust In the heart
The two had been standing confront
ing each other. Her heart grew
faint within her. She stretched out
her hand vaguely as II for support
He stepped toward her, but before he
reached her. she caught the back of
the chair and sank down weakly
That he should be bound and not free
had never once occurred to her; she
- H.
Of his remark.
The man did not help her, he could
not help her. He Just stood and
looked at her. She fought valiantly
for self-control moment or two and
then. utterly oblivious to the betrayal
of her feelings involved in the ques.
tion-the moments were too great for
consideration of such trivial matters
she faltered.
You mean there is some other wo-
MANI"
He shook his head in negation.
Il don't understand. There was
some other woman"
Yes"
Where is she now?"
Dead"
But you said you were not free"
He nodded.
Did you care SO much for her that
now-that now
Enid" he cried desperately. BE
lieve me. ! never knew what love
was until l met you"
The secret was out now; 1t had
been known to her long since. but
now 1t was publicly proclaimed.
Even a man as blind. as obsessed. as
he could not mistake the joy that IL
Illuminated her face at this announce.
ment. That very joy and satisfaction
produced upon him. however. very
different effect than might have been
| anticipated. Had he been free. In
deed. he would have swept her to his
breast and covered her sweet face
with kisses broken by whispered
words of passionate endearment In
stead of that he shrank back from her
and 1t was she who was forced to
take up the burden Of the conversa-
ton.
You say that she Is dead" she be-
gan In sweet appealing bewilderment,
land that you care SO much for me
and yet you"
Il am a murderer" he broke out
harshly. There is blood upon my
hands, the blood of a woman who
loved me and whom. boy as ! was,
thought that l loved. She was my
wife, l killed her"
Great God" cried the girl amazed
beyond measure or expectation by
this sudden avowal which she had
once suspected. and her hand instinct
lively went to the bosom of her dress
where she kept that soiled, water
stained packet of letters, ARE you
that MANI"
Il am the man that did that thing
but what do you know?" he asked
quickly. amazed in his turn.
"Old Kirkby, my uncle Robert Matt
land. told me your story; they said
that you had disappeared from the
haunts of men"
And they were right. What else
was there for me to do? Although in
nocent of crime, ! was blood guilty
was mad. No punishment could be
visited upon me like that imposed by
the stern, awful. appalling fact.
swore to prison myself. to have moth
ing more forever to do with mankind
or womankind with whom ! was un
worthy to SO associate. to live alone
until God took me. To cherish my
memories, to make such expiation as
! could, to pray daily for forgiveness
came here to the widest. the most
inaccessible. the loneliest. spot in the
range No one ever would come here
l fancied. no one ever did come but
you. was happy after fashion. oil
at least content had chosen the
better part. had work, could read
write. remember and dream. But yol
came and since that time life has
been heaven and hell. Heaven be
cause love you. hell because to love
you means disloyalty to the past. tt
woman who loved me. Heaven be
cause you are here; l can hear youl
voice, | can see you. your soul Ii
spread out before me in Its sweetness
In its purity; hell because l am raise
to my determination. to my vow. tt
the love of the past"
And did you love her so much
them" asked the girl. now hercelI
jealous and forgetful of other things
for the moment.