The Mena weekly star., 1913-10-23
OoH0lCu WLHI [LICHCUNX(W -X2c EIaT
 67d DaUz1B 2V XZ6z7J

/ N1oI2LIGV NI HL.Z&E/EJ measured answer. You talk much ol your love for Mark Robertson It 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 vel must endure sacrifcing-you?"
 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 shd i spoke. Now she was looking straight up into his wretched eyes; her own glowing like mist-haloed stars. Sc 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. The faint fra grance of her hair filled the mans nostrils, The warm magic of her 1 presence dazed him.
 Matthew Standsh stood, his eyes wide, his breath coming fast, the sweat beads breaking from his forehead. The | heavy mask on his face twisted itself into halfgrotesque aspect of pain. "You love me-" she murmured
 "Yes," he groaned, his big voice breaking God help me! Yes!" | my whole future. You cant, dear!"
 "Ah!"
 It was the cry of revulsion that might break from a forestroamer who had all but trodden on rattle snake. He recoiled step, with a shudder as of physical sickness.
 Was this needed?" he ragged Was it necessary to defile my smashed idol still further? Wasn't it enough that you long ago taught me to look on all women as shadows? Why must you turn misery into nausea by playing Delilah? My love was tragedy Why must you profane it and make it foIl?"
 He mastered himself with an effort and fought his way back to the wonted lifeless impersonality that had become to him a second nature.
 Mrs. Robertson" he went on in his customary measured slowness, the case stands like this: your father and husband are seeking to ruin me by raking up a story of my past. That story involves you. You ask me to protect you. You sink to unspsakable methods to make me do so. l shall protect you as far as l can. l shall do so to the extreme, unless such protec- tion must involve the welfare ot the people who trust me. 1 will not stand by meekly and see my life work for my country ruined l will not betray the trust of millions whose only hope rests on me. This story your father has dug up must not bU made public. You understand me- It must not be made public At any cost to myself or to you. Is that clear?"
 Then" she asked in tired despera tion, what do you mean to dol"
 Nothing at all" he returned, "sc long as your father and husband keeI this story quiet"
 But surely they won't publish il without knowing my-the Woman's name?"
 That is what I'm beginning to be afraid of They may feel so absolutely certain of learning the name later, that they will circulate the story on tho floor of the house tonight and in to morrow's newspapers. And then, wher they find out who the Woman really Is it will be too late to suppress 1t. You must stop that story. If 1t gets out shall lose the fight. And can not dc that. even to save you"
 "In other words" she retorted. to save yourself you will hide behind me?"
 If you care to put it so."
 But" she urged. "I can't speak to father or Mark about 1t I'm not sup