New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-06-08

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70 tell YOU the truth about things. % train
YOU to walk alone I've taught YOU things
that will make it possible for you to earn
your own living; though I've never seen
any likelihood that you'd be obliged 10. Two
taught YOU other things that would enable
Won TO guard against dangerous people and
worthless people and fraudulent, lying PEG.
ple. You haven't the illusions that girl ~
twenty is supposed to be entitled 70. But
they are dangerous playthings for anybody
and they'd be specially dangerous for you
In those ways think I've kept the promise
that made to myself when | stole YOU, and
gave YOU a new name, and took another new
name for myself, and turned down a page
and began our lives afresh on q new one.
She smiled at that, little smile Of in.
creduouS amusement. FEATHER, she said
protestingly, "don't talk parallels now. |
don't And then she stopped and her
eyes widened for she saw that what he said
was the sober, literal truth. ~Stole,- She
echoed. "Gave me new name And then
she let 90 his hand rather suddenly and
clasped her own together; for they were
trembling. "Then you're not She began.
but had to pause and press her lips together
too-~not my real father at a,I'' She fin.
ished.
ooh. nv dear. my dear. yes" 81. said. q
stole only half of you. Halt OF YOU was al.
WAYS mine, and the other hall aeld to be
forfeited.
With sob Of relief, Of passionate reaction
from a mOmentary terror, She ..aned for.
ward, and slipped TO her knee beside the
bed. and laid her head upon II, md held his
body tight in the embrace J. her strong
young arms.
FOR good while neither spoke; but his
weak hand played in the black tresses
of her hair and quoted her.
"That's all that really matte. isn't it,
he said. His voice trailed AVA t.ntly.
In an instant she was on he- ..t looking
into his face as she had looked 1 she first
came into the room.
That blue pallOr was comm back again
She turned, with a half-repre .i gesture Of
despair. toward the window Would the
doctor never come? Then she e,- herself in
hand again and gave him some more Of the
brandy.
Better" he said family. That's bet.
ter. Don't be frightened. Hell .5me pres
entity"
w men llt DtStll 'lJNifs4l-- JUS FDl-c
was so low she had to lean close hear.
81 ought TO have told you .-1 ago, he
said. what I've just told y.a ai-other
things. I'm a coward Pamela. That's the
truth.
She managed a little laugh and laid her
cheek against his. y coward. She echoed
scornfully.
@Yes. he insisted. "Oh. I've lone what
the world calls brave things. I've faced adj
ventures. taken my chances with savage
men and savager places; even 'ae Borneo
Jungle. and that's the dcadhes' IN the world.
And I've made them pay-ol. O hundred
fold-for all the hardships and .. hangers
But I'm a coward, Pamela, jus. the same.
I've let my fears hold me back .-,m what |
knew i ought to DO. And that's what
cowardice is. ought 10 have ...i YOU long
ago what I've told YOU now, and m1re-au
about Yourself, who YOU really a.e.
I'm glad YOU didn't She at Every
thing has been perfect between @. lit had
been different in any way. T. ..g. init have
been so perfect. But now y.e ..c tell me,
sometime. Not tonight D.o- ak any
more tonight. Wen just -.. Ike this
quietly. and wait for the doctor
There won't be time, ae whispered.
Il must tell YOU now.
She started % protest, hu. ..a.. %. his
cold hand silenccd her.
Il have been a coward. b. - breath
lesslv. There's no getting aHE rom It.