Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1912-10-03

ed to know, / have told you | had
nothing to conceal, as you have found
out. Why you wanted to know about
me. l am not quite sure"
ut was because" burst out the
mar impetuously, and then he stopped
abruptly and Just in time.
Enid Maitland smiled at him n a
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
lied. Now 1t is my turn. l am not
even sure about your name. have
seen 1t in these books and naturally
l have imagined that 1t is yours"
1T Is mine"
well, that Is really all that l know
about you. And now ! shall be quite
frank. / want to know more. You
evidently have something to conceal
or you would not be living here in
this way. l 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 about 1t to take
the trouble to inquire"
"You know" answered the girl.
that is not true. I have been con-
sumed with desire to know"
"A woman's curiosity?"
Not that" was the soft answer
that turned away his wrath.
She was indeed frank. There was
that in her way Of uttering 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, I'VE are alone here to-
gether. We must help each other.
You have helped me, you have been
Of the greatest service to me. / can't
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.
"Yuu mean?" asked the man, star
ing at her, his face afiame.
II mean" answered the girl swift
ly, wilfully misinterpreting and turn
ing his half spoken question anothei
way, 81 mean that I am sure tina
trouble has brought you here. I d,
not wish to force your confidence,
have no right to do SO. yet I shoult
like to enjoy it; can't you give it t.
me? ! want to help you, ! want Il
do my best to make some return TO
what you have been to me and hav'
done for me-"
81 ask but n thing" he said quick
ly.
"And what is that?"
But again he checked himself.
NO" he said, II Inn not free to as
anything of you"
And that answer to Enid Nathan
was, like a knife thrust in the hear
The two had been standing confron'
ing each other. Her heart gre
faint within her. She stretched OF
her hand vaguely as II for supper
He stepped toward her. but before b
reached her, she caught the back {
the chair and sank down weak.
That he should be bound and not FIRE
had never once occurred to her; sh
had quite misinterpreted the meanin
Of his remark.
The man did not help her, he coul
not help her. He just stood an
looked at her. She fought Valiant
for ~self.control a moment or two an
then, utterly oblivious to the betrayi
of her feelings involved In the que
tion-the moments were too great fl
consideration Of such trivial matte
she faltered.
"You mean there ia some other W
man."
He shook his head in ~negation.
81 don't understand. There W,
some other woman"
Eyes"
Where is she now?"
Dead"
but you said you were not free"
He nodded.
"Did you care so much for her tn
' now-that now"
Enid" he cried desperately. "E
lieve me. I knew what To-
was until l met you"
The secret was out now; It h,
been known to her long since, b
now 1t was publicly proclaimed
st Even a man as blind, as obsessed,
k he could not mistake the Joy that
Is Illuminated her face at this announS
r. ment. That very Joy and satisfacti
produced upon him, however, a We
Il different effect than might have be,
Il anticipated. Had he been free,
le deed. he, would have swept her to
breast and covered her sweet ia
n with kisses broken by whisper
n words Of passionate endearment.
" stead Of that he shrank back from b
and 1t via she who was forced
/" take up the burden of the converi
~ fian