The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1913-02-13

4 won't listen to you!" he cried.
his breast heaving.
You are listening. You can't help
It Gone! You must sit down here
beside me. This is the one. great.
solitary hour In your life"
He drew back and permitted an ir-
relevant question to break from his
lips:
why didn't you divorce me-
Because married you. Tom. that
70 Why! Ill always be your wife !
Il can't live with you. but u"
osand and tlss croaiks.
Mary. you are the grandest vo0r
An in all this world!" cried BradAoek.
ama1ement in his eyes And to
think Of It! l am the one to have
married you-a thing like me!-
will you do this for me. Tonr
DO vhat!"
You know what, Tom"
You mean. give up the one tAlAG
I've lived for all these awful ysassr
Yea"
IL can't do 1t. Mary. It's got 70
be. sooner or later. That man and I
can't live on the earth at the sane
time"
oh, won't you give me something
to thank you for after all I've"
Wait q minute! Let me think"
He began pacing the hoor again. She
watched him with bated breath. q
half hope in her heart He stopped
before her once more. His eyes were
bright with . new. strange light TIL
tell you what I'll do Mary-for you
and Christine. I'll put an end to my.
self. That's the best way out Of 1t.
| can't live II he does. It's tho sim
plest. surest way. Don't breathe .
word of this to any one. Ill 20 down
to the river tonight That will be the
end Of 1t all. swear to you won't
hunt up Grand-on my word Of honor.
you will believe that l have any
honor. There IL some sort Of integ-
rity In . man who can night the battle
have-and without wavering or
whimpering. I'll do that for you.
Mary. It's the safest way"
She had heard him at first with q
sickening horror in her soul It was
. frightful compromise that he pro
posed. She knew he meant 1t, that he
would keep his word She understood
how great the sacrifice would be on
bis part. how bitter the defeat. and
abe realised that he was doing It to
justify himself in her eyes.
Is there no other way. Tomf" she
asked. so quietly that his eyes mar.
rowed with q curious intentness.
ITS the only one" he said grimly
"You promise me-on your word Of
honor!"
He started. Certainly. I'll do it.
Take your own ife!"
Il was going to do it anyway. Be.
fore they could hang me-"
There is one alternative, Tom
she said.
You're not thinking of-of takins
me back" he said. aghast at TIE very
thought Of 1t.
mo. I'm going to make An offer
that will give you greater satisfac
ton than that. VIII you 70 away
from New York for ever II pay over
to you every cent that I received fol
my share in Van slye's-"
moi" he almost shouted. .You
can't buy me Oh. I was willing to dc
the right thing = minute ago. Now
you've gone and spoiled 1t all" He
clapped his hands to his eyes. His
big frame shook with rage.
She went quickly to him.
Now. l know you are . man-a bis
man. Tom. am prouder Of you now
than I ever was in all my life. still
have your promise. You will do It to-
night?"
He stared at her a. II he could not
believe his ears. but he said resolute.
ly:
"Of course I will"
She sat down a. II her limbs sud.
denly had lost the power to support
her. He pulled his crumpled hat from
his pocket.
We'll" he began. "1 guess I'd better
be going"
She struggled to her feet.
tom. you are not going to leave
this house until tonight"
He drew back, amazed.
"What1"
I'm going down to the river with
you"
What did you say!"
II am going to the river with you.
But you must stay here until tonieht,
You are not to 90 out into the streets,
Do you understand?"
You can't mean that Why. YOU
must be crazy. You! Why-why, I'm
doing 1t 10 that you can live You can't
mean what you're thinking Of"
Sweat broke out on his forehead.
You do not understand me. Tom. I
am going down to the river with you,
hut am coming back alone"
He slowly grasped the meaning of
It.