Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1913-11-19
CHAPTER XIII.
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EtbA " NafaVaAA
Wanda, witiAa scared smile Of recog-
milton. slipped past standish and out
into the hall.
My father is expecting you, Mr
standish," she heard Grace say-in a
slightly raised tone, palpably for Wan
da's ears. "He told me to ask you TO
walt for him here in case you should
come before he got back from the Cap
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 a face did not show any
emotion save that its 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, them"
Yes" returned Grace, starting up.
Il tried to warn YOU" said he.
How did you find out?"
THE phone girl. Wanda Kelly"
Il see," he unused. Il ought to have
guessed She is one of the machines
spies"
mo. She wants to help me, she
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. Yot
we're wise-while the affair is in its
present state"
1T was wise in any case"
Yes" he agreed. 1T was wise fol
you. But suppose you haven
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 a duty to The
men who have made me their leader il
this fight; who have staked everything
on me-"
And to me?" she cried shrilly. 1T
the Woman who staked more thar
everything? Do you owe nothing t,
me?"
II do not want to think what l owl
to YOU" he evaded, his voice shaking
ever so little. Il beg you not to remin,
me of it,"
You won't help me? You put thes
miserable constituents and politician
of yours ahead of me?"
IF you put it that way, yes"
"Oh, most noble statesman" sh
Knocked, raging. Embodiment of al
that is perfect and-contemptible!
didn't marry you because l no longe
loved you and because | wouldn't ad
a blasphemous loveless marriage t
} my other sin. If l had become you
wife-even If 1t ruined both our live
you would have felt 1t your duty t
stand by me and defend me agains
J the entire world. But because ! ha
} the courage to stop before it made II
both miserable for life, you can nc
in honor protect me! | wonder if 20
half realize how vile thing you are!
} Il loved you. ! have never love
any other woman in all my miserabl
? life. l shall keep on loving you a
it is past my power. | would soone
have bitten out my tongue than b,
tray this secret of yours. All this ca
not interest you. l tell you, so ths
? you may know the punishment is ne
= all yours. You merely risk losin
< what you have gained and cherishe
! during the past few years. | act wit
e the certainty that by doing my dut
i must bring ruin and heart-break O
f the woman whom | love more than
q love my own soul Is my task easic
than yours?'
/, The utter ardor of his words, cor
}. bined with the dull lifelessness of n
Il tone, was almost laughable. Graz
y was gazing at him in blank astonis
ment