Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1912-02-22
"Then I'm twice glad / waited

"Then I'm twice glad waited
| He opened the door. and they both
entered the car. James cranked and
deity lodged through the crowded
thoroughfares toward the restaurant
Paul had chosen.
He turned dreamily to her.
eYou shouldn't be lonely" he said In
the hushed tone one would use at a
deathbed. "since you have for COM
pany-you."
81 find myself sorry company some
times" she answered. with an attempt
at brightness.
His beautiful woman's mouth curv-
ed in dreamy smile. 1T is company
worth any sacrifice to win"
When the car came to stop before
the restaurant they alighted and went
In. Paul made only a pretense of eat
Ing.
You're eating hardly anything" she
said. Aren't you well?"
/ For answer he pointed to her own
plate. hardly touched.
IT had a very late breakfast" she
explained.
$50 had |. Hushr' he almost whis-
pered. Let us not talk"
With a half contemptuous shrug Of
her shoulders she gave over the at
tempt to disturb him. She wondered
how she could ever have deceived her
self into the belief that she could love
or that she wanted to love him.
ut was pity only" she thought
Always pity"
Paul stirred uneasily, lowering his
eyes to meet hers. He looked at her
long and steadily.
Eleanor. Eleanorr' he cried. softly
pleading. st isn't trueY'
What isn't true?" she asked, though
she knew the answer.
''That you will never love me?" he
whispered TREMENDOUSLY.
She put out her hand uncertainty, as
though she would tighten the blow.
No. she said pityingly. II can
never love you as you wish"
He caught her hand in his own. In
their secluded corner they were safe
from observation. though neither
| thought of that.
"Ah. dear. don't say thatl You don't
know how great my love for you is.
1t is the one reality in my life. l have
always loved you. even before saw
you. And | always shall love you. |
will make up to you what suffering
has taken out of your life
Tears came to her eyes. "Paul,"
she said sadly. sit hurts me to tell
you'-
"Don't! I'm willing to wait even
unto death to win from you one thou
sandth of what give you. My love
isn't a thing of the moment. but Of all
time. I'll try so hard to please you. to
cast cut of my life everything that is
inconsistent with my love. even to
break with the man who has stood be-
tween u.s.
mo. nor she cried involuntarily, her
| fingers Tightening around his hand.
"You mustn't desert him. 1t wouldn't
be honorable
"Ah! There is neither honor nor
shame, right nor wrong. kindness nor
cruelty. loyalty nor treachery, only
you, always. supremer'
She drew her hand sharply from his
clasp. Romantic phrases" she said
scornfully. "There are suffering and
sin and remorse; there would be his
unhappiness and the knowledge that
we had caused it. Do you think
could be so mean. so little. as to seek
happiness at that price?"
II don't understand" he said, pass
ing his hand across his brow in be-
wilderment. You said yourself once
"Ah. yesr' she answered, softening.
II have no right to be angry with you,
since it was | who first suggested it
to you. That is my shame. Believe
me. what said then was spoken in
a miserable selfishness far worse than
I have accused him Of had no right
to say it. see my act in all its con-
temptible unwomanliness."
II don't understand
What you ask is impossible" she
went on sadly. But even if could
care for you Iscouldn't accept happi-