Polk County news-gazette. (Benton, Tenn.) 190?-191?, 1913-11-27

itol"
Then the door closed, and Wanda
heard no more
The moment she was alone with
Standish. Grace Robertson's bearing
underwent an almost ludicrous change.
The air OF defiance was lost, leaving
her face strangely drawn and bag
gard. She dropped into a chair and
pressed her hands across her burning
eyes.
Standish stood, still near the door,
looking down at her. His heavy dark
mask OF face did not show any
emotion save that it's premature lines
seemed all at once cut deeper. His
somber eyes held no light. his deep
voice no expression as he said at last:
You know, then?'
YES" returned Grace, starting up.
81 tried to warn you,". said he.
How did you find out?"
THE phone girl. Wanda Kelly"
81 see," he mused 81 ought to have
guessed She is one of the machines
spies"
said. But that isn't the point. She
knows. And she IS the only person
who does"
What did you say to her when
she-?"
Il denied everything, Of course.
What else was there to do"
There was nothing else TO do. You
were wise-while the affair is in its
present state"
1T was wise in any case
Eyes" he agreed 1T was wise for
you. But suppose you haven't
stopped to consider my position in the
matter?"
Your position?" she repeated uncer-
tainly. What do,you mean? What is
your position, except to stand by me
and save me?"
you forget that owe duty to the
men who have made me their leader in
this fight; who have staked everything
on me-"
And to me?" she cried shrilly. ITO
the Woman who staked more than
everything? Do you owe nothing to
me?"
Il do not want to think what owe
to you," he evaded, his voice shaking
ever so little Il beg you not to remind
me of it."
You won't help me? You put these
miserable constituents and politicians
of yours ahead of me?"
"a hot
ooh. most noble sta esman!" she
Knocked. raging. Embodiment OF all
that is perfect nd-contemptibie!
didn't marry you because | no longer
loved you and because | wouldn't add
a bIasphemous loveless marriage to
my other sin. II l had become your
wife-even IL it ruined both our lives
you would have felt 1t your duty to
stand by me and defend me against
the entire world. But because l had
the courage to stop before 1t made us
both miserable for life, you can not
in honor protect mel | wonder II you
half realize how vile a thing you are!"
Il loved you. | have never loved
any other woman in all my miserable
life. shall keep on loving you as
long as live. l do not want to. But
it is past my power. l would sooner
have bitten out my tongue than be-
tray this secret of yours. All this can
not interest you l tell you, so that
you may know the punishment is not
all yours You merely risk losing
what you have gained and cherished
during the past few years. | act with
the certainty that by doing my duty
| must bring ruin and heart-break on
the woman whom l love more than
love my own soul. Is my task easier
than yours?"
The utter ardor of his words, COM
bined with the dull iifelessness OF his
tone. was almost laughable. Grace
was gazing at him In blank astonish-
ment.
you love me?" she mutteredN
81 have told you So" came the slow
measured answer You talk much OF
your love for Mark Robertson. II Is
easy to love when love makes one bliss
fully happy. But is your love worthy
to be compared with mine? With the
love that brings only an eternal gnaw-
ing anguish-the love that can never
hope for one atom of requital and yet
that cannot die-the love that would
sacrifice everything for you and yet
must endure sacrificing-youY'
"You love me?" she repeated; and
her voice had all at once grown won
drous sweet and vibrant. You love
me-Matt?"
She had drawn closer to him as she
spoke. Now she was looking straight
I'D into his wretched eyes; her own
glowing like mist-haloed stars. So
near to him was she that the chiffon
on her breast touched the harsh tex
ture. of his coat Her breath played
lightly on his face.
Matthew Standish stood, his eyes
wide. his breath coming fast, the sweat
beads breaking from his forehead. The
heavy mask on his face twisted itself
into a half-grotesque aspect of pain.
You love me?' she murmured.
"Yes!" he groaned, his big voice
h,ool,tpg "God helm me! Yes!"