The Washington herald., 1912-10-13
CHAPTER n1-continued.

ed, mechanically. Then, turning, h,
walked slowly to the sofa and sanl
onto it, and buried his face in hi
hands. In few moments she raiset
her head and looked at him. His breatl
came and went with sharp hissin,
sound and his shoulders heaved as ths
waves of passion shook him like storm
waves rscking stranded ship. Hei
lips trembled, and suddenly her whole
heart went out to him in rush of ten
derness and sympathy. In an instant
she was on her knees beside him.
please, Colling. don't do thatw sh.
pleaded, tearfully. Il can't bear thai
you should think me unkind! I like
you too well to let you do anything that
would-spoil our happiness. I'm moi
unlind. Really, I'm not! Haven't ]
shown how fond l am of you? And
we have been such friends r.
Friends he grcaned, bitterly.
But, Coliings dear, what else can we
be?"
He drew away from her sharply and
stood up. She rose and gazed at him
anxiously.
We have passed the mere friendship
line" he said, in hard voice. you
know .thatI You would not have left
London with me had we been merely
friends. Were We merely friends when
we sat up night after night at Eller-
dimes place? No friends speak to one
another as we have spoken? Why"
His teeth closed as his passion swept
again. You've only to touch my hand
to know that burn with longingw
"Colling, you must not say such
things. she begged She was thor
oughly frightened. She had hunted the
wolf and reused the lion.
"Fnends" He flung the word back
at her again. IT'S not true! Look
at the risks we have taken! Do friends
run the risks We have. run? Why, we
haven't even tried to fool the world !!
So, for heavens sake, don't let's try
to fool ourselves"
Peggy gasped. People don't think
People don't Think he laughed Bit
terly My darling, people are only too
glad to think. You know what is said
about others
OH she gasped. He turned to her
quickly, his tone and manner softened.
Peggy; you don't care. do you?"
Don't carew her fingers gripped the
edge of the table and she strove to
speak calmly. "Colling, tell me, do peo-
pie think we are lovers"
How can they help thinking it," he
demanded. Haven't we given them ev-
cry reason?'
Peggy choked back a scream of hor-
ror. No. no, no." she gasped, "Oh,
/ hate to think of that! We have only
been friends-very kind friends" she
went on feverishly, as if it were neces-
sary only to convince him. why should
they think otherwise? Oh, | suppose
its all my fault-all my fault! l don't
think ungenerous things of others. l
only wanted companion-a good
friendr'
She sank sobbing into a chair and
flung herself against the table in a pitt
full little heap. Collingwood came and
stood over her, but there was no ten
derness or sympathy in the gaze that
rested on her bowed head. The love
the amusement of butterfly. and the
bitterness of it welled up to his lips
You wanted some one to pet YOU
TO psmper you." he said in low, hard
tones. Some one to satisfy, all your
little vanities-your yearnings for de-
votion, adulation | know You want
ed all the joys and none of the risks
There are many women like you. They
drive men mad-make drunkards. gam
blers, swindlers of them! But I'll not
let you drive me madT' and his teeth
clicked. Peggy, | mean you to be |
mine! There will be crash soon.
Adamston will take notice of what peo-
pie are saying about us. He will come |
out of his political shell and end it |
once and for all!
"Oh! what have l donel" moaned the |
girl
"Done!" echoed Collingwood, with a
swift change of tactics What have |
you. done to deserve his neglect. Why, |
he doesn't even know you exist! Why. |
his heart beats by act of Parliament!
He'd rather rant al village meeting |
than pass an hour with you! Are You |
going to spend your youth in the COM
pany Of
Stop! Stopp Peggy broke in, ris-
ing, white-faced and ;mperious Say
what you like about me-scold me if |
you like, but don't say one word against |
him. You don't know my husband He
is big man and he loves mer |
in a stride he was beside her. gaz-
ing earnestly into her face.
But Peggy he said. you won't say
you love him."
Love himl Oh, l don't know!" she
said patheically, and turned away from
him. I've no chance to love anybody
the way you regard love. 1t was my
father who wished me to marry Adam
ston, even before l left school. So,
you see I've had no chance to love any
one the way you regard love"
"You mean you do not love Adam
ston and you won't love only ono else?"
he INTERCEPTED.
Il don't KNOW" she repeated in a
weary little voice But I certainly
don't love any one else. You think I'm
neglected-that is absurd. She drew
herself up. George knew l did not
love him-he trusts me fully. There
will be no crashm
There will be-! You take my word
for it." he insisted, earnestly. mo man
mot even Adamston-can stand ridi-
cule for long. Remember. Peggy. I
mean to win! I shall marry no one
if I don't marry you"
Peggy laughed, clearly and naturally. |
and moved over to him with one of
those sudden shifts of mood that were
tine most maddening of her charms.
''Colling. don't be sillyY she chided.
gently. "You are one of the best
matches in EnRland. You will marry