Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1914-07-10

dsheu, anu sOmeuOW ne knew WHAT lne
answer would be.
YES" she replied, after a moment.
She was startled. Her lips remained
parted.
He watched her closely. HAS this
this secret anything to do with Chal-
lis Wrandall?"
at has," said she, meeting his gaze
steadily.
His hands clutched the edge OF the
table in grip that turned the knuckles
white.
"Hetty!" he cried, in a hoarse whis-
per. "You-can't mean that you"
You must go to Sara" she cried
hurriedly. Haven't told you that she
is the one"
Were you in love with that internal
scoundrel?" he demanded fiercely.
Sara knows everything. She will
tell you"
Were you carrying on an affair
with him while protesting to be the
friend of his wife? Tell me thatl Did
she find you out and"
ooh, Brandon, why will you per-
sist?" she cried, her eyes afiame. 81
can tell you no more. Why do you
glare at me as If l were the meanest
thing on earth? Is this love? Is this
your idea of greatness? Isn't it enough
for you to know that Sara is my loyal,
devoted friend; that She"
"Wait!" he commanded darkiy. as
it possible that she did not discover
your secret until the day you left her
house so abruptly? Does that explain
your sudden departure?"
II can answer that" she said quiet
ly. "She has known everything from
the day met her. have not said
anything, Brandon, to lead you to be-
lieve that was in love with Challis
Wrandall, have II"
His eyes softened mo, you haven't
| II hope you win forget what said.
You see, knew Wrandall's reputation.
He had no sense of honor. He"
well, have!" she said levelly.
He flushed. II am beast! I'll put
1t in this way, then: Was he in love
with your"
you are still unfair. shall not an
swer."
He was silent for long time. And
Sara's lips are sealed" he unused, still
possessed of doubts and fears.
Until she elects to tell the story,
dearest love, my lips are also sealed.
love you better than anything else in
all this world. l could willingly offer
up my life for you, but-well, my life
does not belong to me. 1t is Sara's."
For heavens sake, Hetty, what is
all this?" he cried in desperation.
Il can say no more. 1t is useless to
insist, Brandon. If you can wrest the
story from her, all well and good. You
will hate me then, dear love. But it
cannot be helped. I am prepared"
Tell me this much: When you re-
fused to marry Leslie, was your
course inspired by what had hap
pened in-in connection with Challis
Wrandall?"
you forget that 1t Is you that
love" she responded simply.
But why should Sara urge you to
marry Leslie if there is anything"
Hush! There is the walter. Come
to my sitting-room after breakfast.
have something to say to you. We
must come to definite understanding
This cannot go on"
He was with her for an hour in that
pinched little sitting-room, and left he1
| x1ttfb oP -,
his soul. She would not give an inch
in the stand she had taken, but some
thing UNNECESSARILY great in his make
up rose to the occasion and he went
forth with the conviction that he had
no right to demand more of her thar
she was ready to give. He was salts
fed to abide by her decision The
spell of her was over him more com
pletely than ever before.
Two days later he saw her off at the
Care de Lyons, bound for Interlaken
There was a complete understanding
between them. She wanted to be quite
alone in the Alpine town; he was no
to follow her there. She had reserved
rooms at the Schweitzerhof, and the
windows Of her sitting-room looked
straight up the valley to the snow-cov
cred crest Of the Jungfrau. She re
g membered these rooms; as young cir
: she had occupied them with her fathe
e and mother. BY some hook or crook
Booth arranged by wire for her to hav,
r them again, not an easy matter at tina
a season of the year. Later she was t,
= go to Lucerne, and then to Venice
e The slightest shred of hope was lief
t for Booth. Even though he might &C
d complish the task he had set unto him
self--the conquest of Sara In respec
e to the untold story-he still had Het
), tvs dismal prophecy that after h
learned the truth he would come t
/. see why they could not be married
d But he would not despair.
l. "We1l see," was all that he said +
o response to her forlorn cry that the
D. were parting for ever. There was
3 grimness in the way he said it tina
gave her something to cherish durin
q the months to come; the hope that h
Is would come back and take her in spit
L. of herself
He sailed from Cherbourg on tn