The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-11-03

But this put quite q new aspect upon the
face of affairs and he began to protest. 1t would
have been much easier if she had made a scene
he had passed through one or two already
with his own countrywomen in the course OF ms
life-they were more or less what was 10 DC
expected at the winding up OF a love EPISODE
and the appreciation of their dramatic element
had always brought him some compensation Tor
their difficulty at the time. But here was d
woman whom he was convinced aosoiu.ey
adored him. and who yet proposed to release him
without reproaches-and with even a hint that
she would reconstruct her life without him. 1t
was too much to bear!
LIE buried his face in his hands in an attitude
of dcspar-and mOaned between his nm
pers: "Yon have never really loved me. Pauline
or YOU could not talk So II can make no diner-
ence to our happiness if should be married OF
not-why cannot we 60 on as we va n;an,
postpone all thought of parting. Grona Dea:
you have no conception OF love- or you "ou'o
understand"
Pauline rose and walked to the fireplace
and gazed into the flame. Every illusion was
being ruthlessly dispelled--she the situation
quite plainly as she looked into the glowing
logs There had been question then OF her
taking second place. Only the difficulty OF the
French marriage laws and the imPossibihty OF
Gaining his fathers the old Marquis, consent
had prevented their marriage. Andre was mao
about her-no devotion seemed too exaggerated
for quite three months-and then the illness OF
her little sister in July at the quiet Engilsh
school where she lived. had obliged Pauline TO
think of other things and be absent from faris
The little sister for whom she worked and VINO
until this man had entered her life with ms
passionate wooing, had meant all the world to
her.
But in the month while she had been away,
great changes had taken place. The old Mar
quis had died-and she had returned to iaris
at rest about the child, who was now convaies-
cent and her heart full of joyous hope that at
last all barriers had been removed to her own
happiness, and that there need be no more con-
cealment which CALLED her pride.
Then her thoughts reviewed al! the subtle
changes she first notced-the gradual, growing
anguish which became her daily portion, and
vet there actual proofs = she coud
seize upon to convince herself nat Andre no
longer loved her. He would he idly passion
ate in protesta,ions, and then make excuses not
to see her for a week, and each time he returned
he would be altered in some way
OLE saw that she had grown to hang upon his
- words, to watch his moods, to control her
lust resentment as the days passed and still all
remained vague as to their future. Her snner-
ing had been prolonged and growing In lnten-
sitv but now the climax had come lie In
tended to marry another woman-and yet would
wish to continue to be her lover-the ugly PIC
ture seemed to burn her eyes-an utter as
enlargement entered her soul. Love had meant
only this to him-and she had gwen MIN an
essence that was far beyond
Suddenly she put out her hands to the
warmth, those refined, transparent hands whch
the FrenchInan had always admired so-aDd the
little gesture drew him in some subtle way, and
with a bound he by her side.
"When l am you. my Pauline, forget
everything else" he exclaimed.
"And when you absent, you remember
AGAIN. YOURSELF" she thought, but she did not
sneak though something in her eyes made him
uncomfortable.
They stood silent for a moment then she
said using all her self-control to say it calmly:
Go now, mon Ami-and return no more,
Tnl hat I npthi