Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1912-03-14
THE: Man
HIGHER UP
By HENRY RUSSELL
MILLER
Copyright. 1910 by Bobbs Mer-
riIl Co.

4
shall be-
"Ah. wanted you to say that But
you mustn't. And it mustn't be true.
| That is the selfish part of my love
must always fight to keep down even
if-eyen if we must not always be
apart You mustn't let me be selfish.
| If you place me first. If you don't sac
rifce me when it is right you can't be
true to yourself. you won't be my man.
| You are so strong You mustn't come
| to weakness through me-"
yet you say you are not good.' he
cried.
The vine wreathed veranda hid them
/ from the world She went to chair.
! fell into it and buried her face in her
1 hands Harsh. dry sobs shook her.
Bob was helpless to comfort her.
! Awkwardly. as one unused to caress.
he put out his hand and let it rest
upon her hair. The unaccustomed
| touch sent fire racing through his
veins.
Eleanor" he murmured hoarsely.
She caught his big hand and pressed
I it to her cheek. II am not good.
am only weak and shameless You
/ must be stronger take me. !"
He sat down beside her and took
both her hands in his firm. strong
! clasp.
| Dear" How strangely the word
dwelt upon his lips. Dear. looh at
me- Two years ago found myself.
! The people of my city trusted me
! when they would have been justified
in crushing me-"
.sBut you weren't guilty. Katherine
has told me-"
Il wasn't directly responsible 1Or
! the crime that was done. But | don't
hide behind that. 1t was done for me.
and accepted the benefit. But my pee
pie didn't know it. Nevertheless they
trusted me- They have helped me to
state The good people here-they
have trusted ME and strengthened me.
In a few weeks am to be nominated
for governor. can be elected. think.
Great power has been placed in my
| hands, am under the most sacred
obligations to the people Of this state.
to John Dunmeade. to him who Is
dead can do much. These two
years have tried to atone. ! have
tried to kill the ugly self that ruled
me- ! thought | had succeeded. And
now | find have failed. am ready
at your word to forget everything but
myself. but you We must start a
new life together. The wealth that
Murchell has left me | will give to
Dunmeade. All the knowledge | have
gained, all the power have won. all
the power that has been given to me
i for purpose not my own. must be
thrown aside. All Murchell's work
will have gone for nothing. John
Dunmeade. left alone. will be beaten.
The people who have trusted me will
be helpless. | must give these things
up because. having been weak once.
| dare not face the responsibility of
weakness in power 1t would be easy.
Every nerve in me aches TO do it. Ii
you say the word will give up these
things for you. and | will never re-
! proach you, never blame You"
He paused questloningly. While ne
was speaking her eyes had not left
his. She was very white.
MY answer isl love your
"And that meahs-noY
And that means-nor'
Their eyes fell away She leaned
back in her chair and looked out into
space. Half unconsciously she freed
one hand from his clasp and with it
caressed the backs of his hands. He
watched the gesture sadly.
After awhile I'VE need each other
| to be strong. don't we?" she said soft
ly. He gave no answer.
Il am afraid she went on later
in dreamy. detached phrases-"I am
afraid to hope. | have always felt
that he would return and thought that
with his coming everything would be
right Now | dare not hope. All at
once it is clear. All. l can't bear to
think of that. We are not our own"
Suddenly he caught her hands to his
lips and covered them with rough.
passionate kisses She let him.
I'VE are not our own. And it is
something. oh, everything. to know
that we have had this hour, with its
bitterness and its sweetness. and TO
know that we have been strong and
always shall ber
Eleanor. Eleanor!s
"And we shall always be together
/ for always you will know that am
praying for you and loving you, as
| you will be loving me!''
The temptation few away and left
them, If not at peace. with new
courage.
| Once he turned to her and cried. Il
would not be without this love. even
| though it means heartachev'
"Nor would |. And somehow-now
this happiness is SO real, so won
derful, the heartache so far away. SO