Evening star., 1914-12-27
Continued from page IL

full to you. But beyond that she wasn't in
the least like the woman you ought to
marry
Il am listening patiently" he remarked;
"but do not agree with single word. The
woman whom man ought to marry is the
woman who, in some mysterious way, has
made for herself place that no other woman
could make in the heart of the man who
covets her. There is no universal standard
of suitability, must know that yourself
very well, or all men would desire the same
woman. feel for Sybil what have felt for
no one else in my life, what shall never feel
for any other woman. l cannot listen to
single word against her. l do not believe
single word against herr
She leaned a little forward. "You believe
in your heart you know that she killed
Aynesworth!' she declared firmly.
Jermyn opened his lips and closed them
again. She leaned little closer still.
"I am not sure, even" she went on, watch
ing him closely, "that Aynesworth, if he
spoke to you at all, did not let fall some
word; did not, directly or indirectly, con-
firm this"
Jermyn covered his face with his hands.
A sudden light flashed in Lucilles eyes.
When Jermyn looked up he seemed older.
Lucille he said, "is this worth while be-
tween you and me? Since you force me to
it, then suppose | admit that Sybil did
kill him? 1t was done in an impulse of mad
ness. You do not for moment suppose
that l shall not protect her with all my
power, by every means | possess?'
Nothing that you can do she replied,
"will be of any use if | choose to speak out"
"But you WON'T
@On certain terms 1 shall not she as
sented. "1f you refuse my terms, l shall
tell the truth"
HE looked at her doubtfully, still without
IL complete understanding.
@An hour or so ago. she continued, drop
ping her voice little, something in the
coming of the morning from behind the
woods carried me back to the past so over
whelmingly that l was compelled to speak
to you of moment that have thought of
always in my heart with shame. l mean the
moment when | begged for little of your
love. No, don't move away. This hurts
you to listen to, perhaps; but you must
listen! When you told me that you were
going to marry Sybil Cluley you gave me the
cruelest shock of my life There was nothing
left for me- l am not one of those who can
distribute affection, Jermyn. When l love
as l love you, as God knows l love you,
there can be no other man in the world,
there can De no 11e worth living without
you, there can be nothing but misery. Sit
still! You must hear me to the end. Twen-
ty-four hours ago it was all over with me-
/ couldn't even make up my mind what l
should do with the wretched fragments of
my life. l simply didn't care. Wherever
looked l could see no single ray of JOY or
happiness, Or anything approaching it. The
one thing that alone l desired. hopeless as it
seemed then, was to separate you and Sybil
Cluley. Fate has done that for me-
He moved uneasily in his chair. She held
out her hand.
II know what you are thinking she went
on. II have brought you face to face with
your own problem. You are wondering and
wondering. Now listen! l am going to
solve that problem for you. l am going to
give you no chance to marry a murderess.
am going to give you no chance of heroism.
If you want to save this girl from the
scaffold, you must marry me and marry me
quickly"
He sprang to his feet. "Lucille!' he cried
@Lucille!"
She rose slowly. She looked at him, looked
at him long and steadily, and his heart sank.
Then she continued 4That is the price of
my silence she told him deliberately. "I