Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1914-06-19

away, Sara, II you must. Don't let
anything stand in the way Of your
friendship for Leslie. You depend on
him for so much. dear. / can't bear
the thought Of"
Hush, dearest! You are first in my
love. Better for me to lose all the
others and still have you"
The girl looked at her in wonder
for long time. "Oh, know you mean
it, Sara. but-but how can it be true?"
Put yourself in my place" was all
chat Sara said in reply. and her COM
panion had no means of translating
the sentence,
She could only remain mute and
wondering. her eyes fixed on that
other mystery, the cameo face in the
moon that hung high above the SOM
Der forest.
Poor Leslie" murmured Sara, q
long time afterward, a dreamy note
in her voice. Il can't put him out
of my thoughts. He will never get
over it. l have never seen one so
stricken and yet SO brave. He would
have been more than a husband to
you. Hetty. 1t is in him to be a slave
to the woman he loves. l know him
well, poor boy"
Hetty was silent, brooding. Sara
resumed her thoughtful observations.
why should you let what happened
months ago stand in the way Of"
She got no farther than that. With
an exclamation of horror, the girl
sprang away from her and glowered at
her with dilated eyes.
my God. Sara!" she whispered
hoarsely. Are you mad?"
The other sighed. Il suppose you
must think it of me-" she said dis
mally. I'VE are made differently, you
and l. II l cared for a man, nothing
in all this world could stand between
me and him."
Hetty was still staring. "fou don't
mean to say you would have me marry
Challis Wrandall's brother?" she said.
in a sort of stupefaction.
Sara shook her head. 81 mean this:
YOU would be justified In permitting
Leslie to glorify that which his broth
er desecrated: your womanhood, my
dear"
MY God. Sara!" again fell in
hoarse whisper from the girls lips.
Il simply voice my point of view."
explained Sara calmly. AS l said
before. we look at things differently"
Il can't believe you mean what you
said," cried Hetty. "Why-why, II /
loved him with all my heart. soul and
body could not even think Of Oh.
l shudder to think of it,"
Il love YOU" continued Sara, fixing
her mysterious eyes on those of the
girl, land yet you took from me some
thing more than a brother. l love
you. knowing everything. and l am
paying in full the debt he owes to
you. Leslie, knowing nothing, is no
less your debtor. All this is paradox
ical, l know, my dear. but we must
remember that while other people
may be indebted to US, we also owe
something to ourselves. We ought to
take pay from ourselves. Please do
not conclude that l am urging or
even advising you to look with favor
upon Leslie Wrandall's honorable, sim
cere proposal of marriage. / am mere
ly trying to convince you that you
are entitled to all that any man can
give you in this world of ours-we
women all are, for that matter"
Il was sure that you couldn't ask me
10 marry him. couldn't believe"
Forget what have said, dearest.
If 1t grieves you." cried Sara warmly.
She arose and drew the girl close to
her. kiss me, Hetty." Their lips
met. The girls eyes were closed, but
Sara's were wide open and cleaning.
1T Is because love you," she said
softly. but she did not complete the
sentence that burned IN her brain.
To herself she repeated: 1T is be-
cause I love you that l would scourge
you with Wrandalls!"