The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1913-08-21

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
we're wise-while the affair is in its
present state
TT was wise In any case"
YES" he agreed. ct was wise for
you. But suppose you haven't
stopped to consider my position In the
matterf"
Your position?" she repeated uncer-
tainly. What do you mean? What y
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 in
this tight; who have staked everything
ON me-"
"And to met" she cried shrilly. ITO
the Woman who staked more than
everything? Do you owe nothing to
met"
'T do not want to think what I owe
to you," he evaded, his voice shaking
ever SO little. 81 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?"
eff you put it that way, yes"
"Oh, most noble statesman" she
Knocked, raging. Embodiment Of all
that is perfect and-contempttble!
didn't marry you because l 10 longer
loved you and because l wouldn't add
a blasphemous loveless marriage to
my other sin. If l had become your
wife-even if it ruined both our lives
you would have felt it your duty to
stand by me and defend me against
the entire world. But because / had
the courage to stop before 1t made US
both miserable for life, you can not
in honor protect me! wonder If you
half realize how vile a thing you are!"
She paused in her furious rambling
| talk. for Standish's dark face had
grown CHASTITY. Vaguely she wonder
: ed why. And as II reading her thoughts
, he spoke. There was NO thrill, no stis
. In the slow lifeless depths Of his voice:
I "I loved you. have never loved
| any other woman In all my miserable
3 life. l shall keep on loving you a
| long as I live. do not want to. But
I It is past my power. would sooner
a have bitten out my tongue than be
tray this secret Of yours. All this cal
not interest YOU tell you. DO tina
|, you may know the punishment Ia no
|, all yours. You merely risk losinl
y what you have gained and cherishe'
during the past few years. l act witt
q the certainty that by doing my dut
[ must bring ruin and heart-break o.
the woman whom love more than
y love my own soul. Is my task easie
In than yours?
a The utter ardor OF his words, con
bined with the dull lifelessness Of hi
n tone. was almost laughable. Grac
\, was gazing at him in blank astonisl
ment
WI you love me?" she muttered.
@. 81 have told you So" came the slo'
medBuTtu dubWOl' W. SNAAh ANN~N
YOUR love for Mark Robertson. 1t
easy to love when love makes one bis
fully happy. But is your love worth
to be compared with mine? With tn
@ love that brings only an eternal gnaN
nj ing anguish-the love that can nevt
hone for one atom of requital and "
= that cannot die-the love that wou
sacrifice everything for you and y
- must endure sacrificing-you?'
r. you love me?" she repeated; ar
N her voice had all at once grown wo
drous sweet and vibrant. You 10y
me-Matt?"
l. She had drawn closer to him as 81
spoke. Now she was looking straig
~ I'D into his wretched eyes; her ov
glowing like mist-haloed stars.
near to him was she that the chinS
on her breast touched the harsh te
ture of his coat. Her breath play
lightly on his face. The faint fl
GRANGE of her hair filled the mar
nostrils. The warm magic Of h
= presence dazed him.
Matthew Standish stood. his ey
= vide. his breath coming fast, the swe
beads breaking from his forehead. T
heavy mask ON his face twisted it's
into half-grotesque aspect OF pain.
! you love met" she murmured.
"Yes!" he sroaned. his big vol
breaking. God help me! Yes!"
"And you won't-you can't-destr
my whole future. You can't. dear!"
"Ah!"
It was the cry OF revulsion tt
might break from forest-roaH
who had all but trodden on a raft
snaLa He recoiled a step. with