Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1914-04-23

rwent 10 ST. Andrews that night. IN
the dark, after l 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. ut shan't be!
II shan't, l tell you'll You can't break
our lives in two like this! It's un-
thinkable."
mo. mol" she said piteously, push
ing him from her. you don't under
stand. You are a man, and men
can't"
II do understand" he insisted "Oh,
my darling, my darling! II isn't right
for that spectral thing to come be-
tween us! Why, II belonged to past
generationl However sad the out
come of that duel, It held no diehonor.
| know only too well the ruin 1t
it wrecked three lives. It shan't rise
again, like Banquos ghost to haunt
oursl know what you think
would love you the more, IL / could
love you more, for that sweet loyalty
but it's wrong, dear. It's wrongl"
Its the only way"
Listen. Your mother loves you.
If she knew you loved me, she would
bear anything rather than have you
suffer like this. You say she wouldn't
have told you herself. Why, II my
father"
She tore her hands from his and
faced him with a cry. "Ah. that is II!
You knew your father so little. 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 were never
apart day till went away to school,"
She paused, breathless.
Doesn't that prove what l say?"
he said. bending toward her. "She
loves you far better than herself. She
wants your happiness"
Gould that mean hers?" she de-
handed, her bosom heaving. To see
us together - always - always! To
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 grievel I've gone over all
you can say till my soul cries out, but
it can't change 1t. 1t can'ti
Valiant felt as though he were bat
tering with bruised knuckles at a stone
wall. A helpless anger simmered in
him. Suppose" he said bitterly, that
your mother one day, perhaps after
F., long years, learns of your sacrifice;
! Sic Sic 80 lKeiy TO guess in the end, I
think. VIII 1t add to her pleasure, do
you fancy, to discover that out OF this
conception of filial loyalty-for it's
that, l suppose!-you have spoiled
your own life?"
She shuddered. "She will never
learn" she said brokenly ooh.
know she would not have spoken. She
would suffer anything for my happi-
ness. But l wouldn't have her bear
any more for my sake"
His anger faded suddenly, and when
he looked at her again, tears were
burning in his eyes.
Shirley" he said. ITS my heart
too, that you are binding on the
wheel! l love you. l want nothing
but you! I'd rather beg my bread
from door to door with your hand
in mine than sit on a throne without
you'll What can there be in life fol
me unless you share It? Think of ouI
love! Think of the fate that brough,
me here to fiGd you in Virginia
Think of our garde.-where thought
we would live and work and dream
till we were old and gray-together
darlingl Don't throw our love away
like this!"
His entreaties left her only whittier
but unmoved. She shook her head
gazing at him through great cleal
tears that welled over and rolled dowr
her cheeks.
81 can't fight" she said. Il have NJ
: strength left" She put out her hant
} as she spoke and dropped 1t with ;
little limp gesture that had in 1t three
despair. hnality and hopelessness. /
caught at his heart more strongly thar
any words. He felt a warm gush o
pity and tenderness.
He took her hand gently withou
speaking, and pressed it hard agains
his lips. 1t seemed to him very small
: and cold.
They passed together through tn
wet bracken, his strong arm guidin
her over the uneven path, and cam
TO the open in silence.
Don't come with me-" she sal
then, and without a backward glance
! went rapidly from him down the shin
! mering road.
} CHAPTER XXI.
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