The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-04-17
Copyright, 1011, by W. q. Chapman
CHAPTER XVIII,

Alt0Ougn E0f0 Md1uaOO mao spoken
brayely enough while he was there,
when she was alone her feart 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. It was indeed a curious and
bewildering situation. Passionate
alteration for the other rose In each
breast like the surging tide OF q
mighty sea, and like that tide upon
the shore it broke upon conventions,
ideas, ideals and obligations intangi-
those iron coasts that have withstood
the waves assaults since the worlds
morning.
The man had shaped his life upon a
mistake. He believed absolutely in
the unquestioned devotion of a 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 it 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 loveG her, the more
ashamed he was By a 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 mem
DRY. 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 a pas
siOnate desire for his society because
there was no satisfaction in life for
the wife away from him, was due to a
fear lest without his protection she
should be unable to resist the appeal
of the other man which her heart
seconded so powerfully. If it were
only that Newbold would not be false
to the obligation of the other woman s
devotion, Enid might have solved the
problem in a moment.
1t was not so simple, however The
fact that Newbold cherished this mem
DRY, the fact that this other woman
had fought SO desperately, had tried
SO hard not to give way, entitled heI
to Enid Maitland's 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 if 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's
memory, she could not enlighten this
man at the expense of his dead wife's
reputation.
Although she longed for him as
much as he 1onged for her, although
her love for him amazed her by its
depth and intensity, even to bring hel
happiness, commensurate with hel
feeling, she could not betray her dead
sister. The imposts of honor, how
hard they are to sustain when they
conflict with love and longing.
Enid Maitland was naturally not {
little thrown off her balance by the
situation and the power that was hers
What she could not do herself she
could not allow anyone else to do
The obligation upon her must be ex
tended to others. Old Kirkby had nc
right to the woman's secret any more
than she; he must be silenced. Arm
strong, the only other being who was
privy to the truth, must be silencet
too.
One thing at least arose out Of the
sea Of trouble in tangible way; she
was done with Armstrong Even i
she had not so loved Newbold that she
could scarcely give thought to any
other human being, she was done witt
Armstrong.
A singular situation! Armstrong
had loved another woman, so had New
bold; and the latter had even married
| this other woman, yet she was quite
willing to forgive Newbold, she mad.
every excuse for him, she made non,
for Armstrong. She was an eminent,
sane, just person, yet as she though
Of the situation her anger agains
Armstrong grew hotter and hotter. |
| was d safety valve to her feelings, al
though she did not realize it. Ate
all, Armstrong; actions rendered he
| certain service; If she could ge
over the objection in her soul. if sh,
| could ever satisfy her sense Of honol
and duty and obligation, she could set
tie the question at once. She hat
| only to show the letters TO Newbolt
| and to say: These were written b,
the man of the picture; 1t was he, ant
| not you, your wife loved" and New
bold would take her to his heart In
| stantly.
These thoughts were not without (;
certain comfort to her. All the com
pensation Of self sacrifice is in it.
realization That she could and dit
not somehow ennobIed her love fo1
him Even women are alleged Will
base metal. In the powerful ant
universal appeal Of this man to her
she Fejoiced at whatever was Of tn.
soul, rather than OF the body. Tt
possess power, to refrain from using
1t in obedience to some higher law, Il
perhaps to pay oneself the most fiat
terlng of compliments. There was
satisfaction to her soul in this which
was yet denied him.