Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1912-02-22

that he went to the capital and agreed
finally to join John Dunmeade on the
condition that they support you for
governor next year,"
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 sneer.
You pleading for him. You seem to
have executed the vote face"
She flushed 81 have no right to
resent that. The one thing a woman
asks of man is loyalty. She should
be the last to seek to turn it away
from another That l have done SO is
my shame. ("
He shook his head in perplexity
"You have changed since you went
away"
"I've 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 Ia
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 it 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.
ssThat 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. "He- has-told--you"- he gasp
ed. "WhenY
Saturday night-over the tele-
phone
sIt 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. he thought bitterly. There
was no hint of self blame in his bitter
ness His heart contracted in spasm
Of exquisite sorrow Tears Of self pity
stood in his eyes.
''The end of the dream." he sighed.
SIT was too good to be true Nothing
gemains but 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 mem
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 selfishness-w when
i say go back to him and forget me.
You are all he cares for. and he is far
more worthy of your love than / am.
You win find you. true happiness
working with him and John Dun
meade. And IL will go away where
you can both forget me and can no
longer stand between you. l. not he.
have been the marplot."
"It's too late" he said listlessly. HE
and have parted forever"
ut is never too late to atone for a
fault. Be generous to me. if not to
him." she pleaded anxiously.
The quality of his smile changed.
"To you? What is he to your"
"He is man who despises me
justly" she answered steadily. He
is man whom my brother is cruelty
seeking to destroy and to whom |
have carelessly. 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,
Pm putting aside my woman's pride
to plead for a man who hates me. Be-
cause if you do what Henry wants |
must always feel that the crime is
mine"
"It's too late! It's doner'
"Pauli''
A man at the next table turned
sharply, hearing the low. gasping cry.
He looked away again quickly. The
try 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 so
hardly-died. He saw his deed in all
its shamefulness. its nakedness of de-
Tense. The sense of unreality fell
from him. He saw the misery he had
wrought.
what have done?"
ssWhat have we done?"
Mechanically he fumbled for bill
and threw it on the table. He rose
from his seat. AS mechanically she
followed him out of the restaurant