The Yale expositor., 1912-07-25

Gu W hHOW, L II Ve lOlu you. i mac
nothing to conceal, as you have fount
oat. Why you wanted to know about
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 had
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. l am not
even sure about your name. | have
seen it in these books and naturally
have imagined that it is yours
1T is mine"
We'll, that is really all that | know
about you. And now I shall be quite
frank. / want to know more. You
evidently have something to conceal
| or you would not be living here in
this way. | 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 abous it to take
the trouble to inquire"
, You know" answered the girl
shat is not true. have been con-
s'Imed with desire to know"
"A woman's curiosity?"
Not that" was the soft answer
t1at turned away his wrath.
She was indeed frank. There was
chat in her way of utteriug 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, 1--WE are alone here to-
gether. We must help each other.
You have helped me, you have been
Of the greatest service 20 me. / cant
begin to count all that you have done
for me; my gratitude"
only that?"
But that is all that You have ever
asked or expected" answered the
young woman in a low voice whose
gentle tones did not at ali accord
with the holiness and courage of the
speech.
You mean?" asked the man, star
ing at her, his face aflame.
Il mean" answered the girl swift
~, wilfully misinterpreting and turn
ing his half spoken question another
way, II mean that l am sure that
trouble has brought you here. | do
not wish to force your confidence, |
have no right to do so, yet l should
like to enjoy ii: can't you give it 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, Il am not free to ask
anything of you"
And that answer to Enid Maitland
was like a knife thrust in the heart
ing each other. Her heart grew
faint within her She stretched out
her hand vaguely as If for support.
He stepped toward her, but before he
reached her. she caught the back Of
the chair and sank down weakly.
That be should be bound and not free
had never once occurred to her; she
had quite misinterpreted the meaning
of his remark.
The man did not help her, he could
not help her. lie just stood and
looked at her. She fought valiantly
for self-control a 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-
man?"
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
lie 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 ! met you"
The secret was out now; It had
been known to her long since, but
now it was publicly proclaimed.
Even 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