Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1914-06-18
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yisor-wtse over his brow. In an il
slant he had drawn her upright, an
they stood, looking at each othel
drenched and trembling.
How a your" he said with
roughness that sounded akin to anger
Here in this ~atrocious weather-lik
this!" he laid a hand on her arm
You're wet through"
Il don't mind the rain," she ar
swered, drawing away, yet feeling
with a guilty thrill the ma~sterfulnes
OF his tone, as well as its real concern
I'm often wet"
His gaze searched her face, featur,
by feature, noting her pallor, the blue
olack shadows beneath her eyes, tht
caught breath, uneven like a child'i
from crying. He still held her hands
in his.
Shirley" he said, 81 know what vol
intended to tell me by those flowers
| went to st. Andrews that night, IL
the dark, after l read your letter
Who told you? Your-mother?"
mo, MOI" she cried. "She would
never have told mel"
His face lighted. With an irresist
IDLE movement he caught her to him
Shirley" he cried. ut shan't be!
1t shant, tell you! You can't break
u lives in two like this! It's un.
t~hinkable."
NO, MOI" 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. ooh.
my darling, my darling! 1t isn't right
for that spectral thing to come be-
tween us! Why, it belonged to a past
generation! However sad the out
come of that duel, it held no dishonor.
l know only too well the ruin 1t
brought my father! it's enough that
1t wrecked three lives. 1t shan't rise
again, like Banquo's ghost to haunt
ours! | know what you think-I
would love you the more, If | could
love you more, for that sweet loyalty
u it's wrong, dear. It's wrong!"
Its the only way"
Listen. Your mother loves Won
II n Knew you loved me, she would
pear anything rather than have YOU
suffer like this. You say she wouldn't
nave told you herself. Why, if nv
father"
she tore her hands from his and
FACED him with a cry. "Ah, that is it!
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
mad. 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 a day till went away to school,"
She paused, breathless.
Doesn't that prove what | saw"
ne said, bending toward her. "She
loves you far better than herself She
"1Ato youI happiness.
Gould that mean hers?" she do.
manded, her bosom heaving. To see
us together - always - aIwaysl To
be reminded in everything-the lines
your face-.the tones of your voice,
maybe-of that! oh, you don't know
now women feel-how they remember
how they grieve! I've gone over all
you can say till my soul cries out, but
1t can't change it. 1t can't!
Valiant felt as though he were hat
tering with bruised knuckles at a stone
wall. A helpless anger simmered in
Suppose" he said bitterly. chat
your mother n day, perhaps after
long years, learns of your sacrifice.
She is likely to guess in the end.
think. Will it add to her pleasure. do !
you fancy, to discover that out of this
conception of filiaI loyalty-for it's
hat, l suppose!-you have spoiled
your own life?"
She s%huddered. "She will never
she said brokenly. ooh,
5now she would not have spoken. She
would suffer anything for my happi-
hess. But | wouldn't have hei bear
my more for my sake"
His anger faded suddenly, and when
looked at her again, tears were
burning in his eyes.
Shirley" he said. TITS my heart,
90, that you are binding on the
wheel! love you. l want nothing
tut you! I'd rather beg my bread
rom door to door with your hand
n mine than sit on a throne without
Iou! What can there be in life for
ne unless you share it? Think of our
owe! Think Of the fate that brought
ne here to find you in Virginia!
Think of u garden-where thought
We would live and work and dream.
i'll we were old and gray-together,
Don't throw our love away
ike this!"
His e~ntreaties left her only winter,
'ut unmoved. She shook her head, ]
at him through great clear