The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1914-08-06

surrey, ne shlu, L KNOW what you
intended to tell me By those flowers
| went to ST. Andrews that night. in
he dark. after | read your letter.
Who told you? Your-mother?"
mo, mol" she cried. "She would
never have told mel"
His face lighted. With an irresist-
ible movement he caught her TO him.
Shirley" he cried. 1T shan't be!
1t shan't. I tell you'll You can't break
our lives in two like thisi It's un-
thinkable."
No. mol" she said ~piteously. push
ing him from her. you don't under
stand. You are a man, and men
can't"
Il do understand" he insisted. "Oh.
my darling. my darlingl II isn't right
for that spectral thing to come be-
tween us! Why. 1t belonged to a past
generationl However sad the out
come OF that duel, It held no dishonor.
| know only too we'll the ruin II
brought my father! It's enough that
1t wrecked three lives. II shan't rise
again, like Banquo's ghost to haunt
ours! / know what you think
would love you the more, II | could
love you more. for that sweet loyalty
but it's wrong. dear. It's wrongi"
IT'S the only way"
Listen. Your mother loves you.
II she knew you loved me. she would
bear anything rather than have you
suffer like this. You say she wouldn't
have told o herself. Why. II my
father"
She tore her hands from his and
faced him with a cry. "Ah. that is I'll
You knew your father SO E.tle. He
was never to you what she is to me
Why, I've been all the life she has
had. ! remember when she mended
my dolls, and held me when | had
scarlet fever, and sang me the songs
the trees sang to themselves at night
| said my prayers at her knee till
was twelve years old. We we're never
apart a day till went away to school. II
She paused. b%reathless.
Doesn't that prove what I say? p
he said. bending toward her. "She
loves you far better han herself. She
wants your happiness"
Gould that mea hers?" she de
manded, her bosom heaving. To see
us together = always = always! TIC
be reminded In everything-the lines
of your face-the tones of your voice
maybe-of that! Oh. you don't know
how women feel-how they remember
how they grieve! I've gone over al
you can say till my soul cries out, bur
1t can't change 1t. 1t can'ti
Valiant felt as though he were bat
tering with bruised knuckles at a ston,
wall. A helpless anger simmered II
him. Suppose" he said bitterly. "tha
your mother n day. perhaps afteI
long years, learns Of your sacrifice
She is likely to guess in the end,
think. VIII II add to her pleasure, d,
you fancy, to discover that out OF thit
conception of flial loyalty-for 1T
that, | suppose!-you have spoile,
your own life?"
She %shuddered. She will neve,
learn" she said brokenly. ooh,
know she would not have spoken. Sh,
would suffer anything for my happi
ness. But l wouldn't have her bea
any more for my sake"
His anger faded suddenly, and whei
he looked at her again. tears wer,
burning In his eyes.
Shirley" he said. IT'S my hear,
too. that you are binding on tn
wheel! love you. ! want nothin
but you! I'd rather beg my brea,
from door to door with your han
In mine than sit on a throne withou
you! What a there be In life 70
me unless you share II? Think Of GU
love! Think of the fate that brough
me here to find you in Virginia
Think OF our garden-where | though
we would live and work and dream
till wa ware old and Rray-tnRathal