The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1912-07-11

| that he went TO the capital and agreed
finally to join John Dunmeade on the
condition that they support you for
/ governor next yearT
Paul stared at her bewildered. stun
ned He did that?" he asked slowly
incredulously
Yes.
His arms fell Imply to his side. For
some minutes he sat motionless
When he looked up again his hand
some face was marred by a sneer.
"You pleading for him! You seem to
have executed the volte face"
She flushed. III have no right {,
resent that. The one thing woman
asks of man is loyalty. She should
| be the last to seek to turn IL away
from another. That | have done so is
! my shame"
He shook his head in perplexity
you have changed since you went
away"
"Ive found out that the world
wasn't created merely for my pleas.
ure." she answered quietly.
"After ALL" he continued, "the thing
In which he has been falsest was in
coming between us. If he hadn't done
| that you could have loved me That
Sunday when you sang you almost
| cared for me. And you would have
let yourself love me had II not been
/ for him. Even now you wouldn't re.
fuse me finally were it not for his op-
position. But he and | have come to
the end"
You're mistaken" she said gently.
"That isn't my entire reason. He has
told me that he no longer objects. He
proves his friendship by that"
/ Again Paul fell back Imply in his
chair. has-told-you"- he gasp.
ed. "WhenT
Saturday night-over the tele-
phone"
''It was too late-too later
The music of the string band and
the voices of the other diners receded
He lost sense even of the presence of
the woman before him. He felt mis-
erably alone. Life had dealt hardly
by him. ne thought bitterly. There
was no hint of self blame in his bitter
ness. His heart contracted In a spasm
Of exquisite sorrow. Tears Of self pity
stood In his eyes
1.-THE end of the dream!' he sighed.
at was too good to be true Nothing
remains but a memory-the deathless
memory of what might have been"
Even in his bitterness he could turn
his pretty phrase.
Tears were in her eyes too. "You'll
forget. I'm not worth even a men,
ory."
She could with difficulty preserve
the steadiness Of her voice as she
spoke.
II have no right to ask you any.
thing. / haven't been fair with you.
But am fair with you now-I'm try.
ing to atone for my selfshness-when
! say go back to him and forget me.
You are all he cares for. and he Is far
more worthy of your love than IL am.
You will find your true happiness
working with him and John Dun.
meade And IL will go away where
you can both forget me and l can no
longer stand between you. /, not he.
| nave Detu lue LluTplOL.
"Its too late" he said listlessly. He
and have parted forever"
ut is never too late to atone for a
fault Be generous to me, II not TO
him." she pleaded anxjously.
The quality of his smile changed.
ITO you? What is he to your"
"He is a man who despises me-
justly" she answered steadily. HE
Is a man whom my brother is cruelty
seeking to destroy and to whom
have careessly, selfishly. done the
greatest injury one can do to another.
Paul, know how my brother is tempt
ing you. You will not do what he
wants; please say you will not. See,
I'm putting aside my woman's pride
to plead for a man who hates me. Be
cause II you do what Henry wants |
must always feel that the crime is
mine"
"Its too latel It's doneT
"Paulr'
A man at the next table turned
sharply. hearing the low. gasping cry.
He looked away again quickly. The
cry pierced even Paul's self pity. He
saw her face go death white; piteous,
stricken look crept into her eyes. An
unbelievable. stunning thought stirred
In his heart
do you mean that you
The sadly beautiful picture faded.
The pity of self--of the man upon
whom circumstances had played 50
hardly-died. He saw his deed in all
its shamefulness. its nakedness Of de-
fense. The sense of unreality fell
from him. He saw the misery he had
wrought
What have doneT
"What have we doneT
Mechanically he fumbled for bill
and threw 1t on the table. He rose
from his seat. AS mechanically sne
followed him out of the restaurant
into the street.