The Detroit times., 1913-06-05

waited and struggled for this. After
the years of patient devotion he had
rendered her. was she SO unmoved in
the presence or his love: did II mean
SO little 10 her.
You know IL now" he said In a
low voice
Even as he spoke. he was conscious
that the angry wonder In her eyes
changed to look that was almost one
OF contempt and the color surged
back into his face, until his cheeks
burned with II. But her quite evident
scorn OF him served 10 rouse him. He
met her glance with look OF quick
resentment that she understood. and
liked him none the less that he had
been so ready to summon 1t.
Il think you are mistaken, Mr. Ben
son. you don't really wish me 10 stay.
I'D better go She spoke coldly. but
with a certain latent pity In her tone.
Yes, he said doggedly. Il do wish
you to remain. do wish to speak to
you. have waited, have hoped the
time would come when | might
1t Is not now II will never come.
she said slowly You have been very
good, always am grateful TO you.
Be content with that; don't force me
to say more than this, please, for
cannot listen TO you with patience.
mo, that won't suffice" he persist
ed. reused by something In her man
ner to a stubborn determination to be
heard, no matter what the conse-
lQuences. Il haven't struggled TO win
your gratitude That won't suffice,
unless It leads to something else.
What more have you expected
she asked quietly But he was not
mislead by her restraint.
What does a man expect when his
heart has gone out OF his keeping
Don't" she cried quickly, putting
up her hands as though TO ward on
something Don't How can you"
Why not?" he asked. Every man
says 1t sooner or later TO some wo-
man; and every woman hears II soon
err or later from the lips OF some
man"
You must not" she repeated.
Il have waited. | have tried TO be
patient; don't give me your answer
now. II II Is no, II will leave me
nothing, | have lived and struggl ed
for this day; that | might tell you
that ! love you. You may not be
ready to hear tt did not intend TO
speak; nothing could have been fur.
Their from my purpose 10 minutes ago;
but | have spoken. and you know that
love you, This love seems TO 90
back to the very beginnings OF my
life-l don't want to think Of time
when ] did not love you; II seems i'm
possible to even imagine such a time.
rs impossible as to imagine a future
when I.shall have ceased to love you!
You may not value my love, but 1t Is
as much yours as any other possession
you have in the world
Her resentment toward him was
slowly taking definite shape in her
mind, she was seeing the fullest rea-
son for II. She had counted him
her friend, generously disinterested
and wholly self-forgetful. she felt he
had advanced under the cloak OF
Friendship for Stephen, until he dared
to speak OF love to her. To her, To
the widow Of the man for whom he
had professed such devotion. Yet she
parted from her ideal of him with
q sense Of bitter personal loss as from
living presence on which she had
come wholly to rely. II she could
not trust him. whom could she trust
He dwindled in all the generous good
ness with which she had unconscious.
| ly invested him. TO contemplate little
ness and petty self-seeking.
His patient kindness. his innup.
cradle sacrifices OF time and conven-
fence had been but the stepping
stones toward this moment. when he
dared TO tell her that he loved her.
Her anger famed in her face: but
| when she spoke she still maintained
! the control which she had put upon
herself from the start.
! II wish that you had allowed me
10 leave you before you said what you
| have. or course II would have made
no difference In the opinion | had
| formed OF you. but | should not have
been forced to speak OF it,
He would have said that In his
fancy he had already lived through
the possibilities OF this moment: but
he had never quite conceived II posi-
BILE that she could treat him with such
cold scorn. In his bitterness he could
| only ask himself how had he failed
SO utterly. At her word. however, and
the tone In which she had spoken
them. his self.respect came to his res
! cue.
You need not say anything that
you may regret later on: that 10 quite
unnecessary, for I think ! know just
! how you feel toward me-" he said
! gently
She knit her brows In an angry
frown, but his words impressed her.
and her manner became more one OF
resentful kindness. After all she had
no wish to hurt him. only he must
understand the extent of his enor-
nifty, for In her jealous love for
stephen Landray II was nothing else.
Have ever said anything, has
there ever been In my manner toward
you, anything that could lead you to
think ! could SO far forget myself as
to wish TO hear what you have Just
told me. from the lips OF any l.sing
man.
No he said there has not been:
yet"
'If ] have been at fault you must
tell me. ! Will hear you without Of
renee then | can the sooner for.
give You for the way In which YOU
have misjudged me, | should almost
be glad TO think that In some way
had been TO blame"
NO" he answered. II have known
always that you would not care to
hear this; that II would only hurt
: you
Then why have Won told mo- ahe