Licking Valley courier. [volume] (West Liberty, Ky.) 19??-current, 1912-04-11
CHAPTER XVIII.


The Strength Of the Weak.
Although Enid Maitland had spoken
bravely enough while he was there,
when she was alone her teart sank
into the depths as she contemplated
the dreadful and unsolvable dilemma
in which these two lovers found them
selves so unwittingly and inextricably
involved. 1t was indeed a curious and
bewildering situation. Passionate
alteration for the other rose in each
breast like the surging tide Of
mighty sea, and like that tide upon
the shore it broke upon conventions,
ideas, ideals and obligations intangi-
BILE to the naked eye, but as real as
those iron coasts that have withstood
the waves assaults since the worlds
morning. .
The man had shaped his life upon
mistake. He believed absolutely in
the unquestioned devotion Of wom-
an to whom he had been forced to
mete out death in an unprecedented
and terrible manner. His unwilling
ness to derogate by his own conduct
from the standard Of devotion which
he believed had inhabited his wife's
bosom, made 1t impossible for him to
allow the real love that had come into
his heart for this new woman to have
free course; honor, pride and self-re-
spect scourged him Just In proportion
to his passion for Enid Maitland.
The more he loved her, the more
ashamed he was. BY curious COM
bination Of circumstances. Enid Matt
land knew the truth; she knew that
from one point of view the woman had
been entirely unworthy the reverence
in which her husband held her men,
ory. She knew that his wife had not
loved him at all, that her whole heart
had been given to another man, that
what Newbold had mistaken for pas
! sionate desire for his society because
I there was no satisfaction in life for
the wife away from him, was due to q
fear lest without his protection she
should be unable to resist the appeal
Of the other man which her heart
seconded 80 powerfully. II II were
only that Newbold would not be false
to the obligation Of the other woman's
devotion, Enid might have solved the
problem In moment. ....
1t was not so simple, however. The
fact that Newbold cherished this mem.
ory, the fact that this other woman
had fought SO desperately, had tried
SO hard not to give way, entitled her
to Enid Maipands admiration and de-
manded her highest consideration as
we'll Chance, or Providence, had put
her in possession of this woman's Sc
cret. 1t was as II she had been caught
inadvertently eavesdropping. She
could not In honor make use Of what
she had overheard. as 1t were; she
could not blacken the other woman'f
memory, she could not enlighten this
man at the expense of his dead wife't
reputation.
Although she longed for him al
much as he longed for her, although
her love for him amazed her by 1T
depth and intensity, even to bring hel
happiness, commensurate with he
feeling, she could not betray her deaC
sister. The imposts OF honor, how
hard they are to sustain when the!
conflict with love and longing.
Enid Maitland was naturally not
little thrown off her balance by tn,
situation and the power that was hers
What she could not do herself sh'
could not allow anyone else to dc
The obligation upon her must be ex
tended to others. Old Kirkby had n,
right to the woman's secret any NOR,
than she; he must be silenced. Arm
strong, the only other being who wa
privy TO the truth, must be silence'
too.
One thing at least arose out Of tn
sea OF trouble In n tangible way; sh
was done with Armstrong. Even 1
she had not 80 loved Newbold that sh
could scarcely give thought to an
other human being, she was done wit
Armstrong.
A singular situation! Armstron
had loved another woman, so had New
bold; and the latter had even Marie
this other woman, yet she was quit
willing to forgive Newbold, she mad
every excuse for him, she made non
for Armstrong. She was an emlnentl
sane, Just person, yet as she though
Of the situation her anger againi
Armstrong grew hotter and hotter.
was safety valve to her feelings, a
though she did not realize IT, Afte
all, Armstrong; actions rendered he
a certain service; If she could gt
over the objection in her soul, II sh
could ever satisfy her sense of homo