The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1912-11-15


.''lu Maitland smiled at him in A
way that indicated she knew what
was behind the sudden check be had
imposed upon himself
Whatever your reason vour curi.
osity-" WA wa
Don't call it that. please"
iour desire then has been graf
iheo' Now it is my turn. l am not
! even sure about your name. have
seen 1t in these books and naturally
nave imagined that it is yours"
1T is mine"
We'll, that is really all that I know
aoout 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
TINS way. l have never asked you
ABOUT yourself, or / manifested the
ieast curiosity to solve the problem
you present. to find the solution of the
mystery of your life"
Perhaps" said the man, you
olant care enough about 1t to take
the trouble to inquire"
You know" answered the girl,
that is not true. have been con-
sumed with desire to know"
"A wonlan's curiosity"
Not that" was the soft answer
mat turned away his wrath.
| She was indeed frank. There was
tnat 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. 10.
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
j gentle tones did not at ali accort
i with the boldness and courage Of the
speech.
- ::xaaA. uaan?".-asked. the. man. star
ting at her, his face aflame.
Il mean," answered the girl swift
". wilfully misinterpreting and turn
| Ing his half spoken question anothe,
way, y mean that l am sure tina,
trouble has brought you here. l DE-
not wish to force your confidence,
have no right to do SO, yet should
like to enjoy it: can't you give 1t tt
me? want to help you, l want tt
do my best to make some return fol
what you have been to me and have
done for me"
Il ask but one thing" he said quick
".
"And what is that?"
| But again he checked himself.
NO." he said, Il am not free to ask
anything Of you"
| And that answer to Enid Maitland
was like knife thrust in the heart
The two had been standing confront
ing each other. Her heart grew
faint within her. She stretched Out
her hand vaguely as II for support
He stepped toward her. but before hi
reached her, she caught the back o.
the chair and sank down weakly
That he should be bound and not fret
had never once occurred to her; she
had quite misinterpreted the meaning
az his remark.
The man did not help her, he couli
not help her. He just stood ant
looked at her. She fought valiantly
for self.control a moment or two ant
then, utterly oblivious to the betraya
OF her feelings involved in the ques
tion-the moments were too great fol
consideration of such trivial matters
--she faltercd.
"You mean there is some other wo
man."
He shook his head in negation.
Il don't understand. There was
some other woman?"
YES"
Where Is she now"
Dead"
But you said you were not Free"
He nodded.
did you care so much for her that
now-that now"
Enid" he cried desperately. BE
lieye me. l never knew what love
was until met you"
The secret was out now; 1t had
been known to her long since. bu,
now 1t was publicly proclaimed.
Even a man as blind, as obsessed. as
he could not mistake the Joy that IL
Illuminated her face at this announce
ment. That very Joy and satisfaction
produced upon him. however, very
different effect than might have been
anticipated. Had he been free. In
deed, he would have swept her to bis
/; breast and covered her sweet face
with kisses broken by whispered
words of passionate endearment. In
stead of that he shrank back from bel
and 1t was she who was forced tc
take up the burden Of the converse
ton.