Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1914-06-04

| 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
| 1t, 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 cant put him out
Of my thoughts He will never get
over It / have never seen one so
stricken and yet so brave. He would
have been more than a husband to
you, Hetty. It is in him to be slave
to the woman he loves. 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 glowcred at
her with dilated eyes.
my God, Sara!~ she whispered
hoarsely. Are you madr'
The other sighed II suppose you
must think 1t OF me-" she said dis
mally. I'VE are made differently, you
and !. If cared for man, nothing
in all this world could stand between
me and him"
Hetty was still staring. "You don't
mean to say you would have me marry
Challis Wrandall's brother?" she said,
In sort of stupefaction.
Sara shook her head. II mean this:
you would be justified In permitting
Leslie to glorify that which his broth
er desecrated; your womanhood, my
dear"
my God. Saral" again fell in a
hoarse whisper from the girls lips.
Il simply voice my point OF view
explained Sara calmly. "As / said
before, we look at things differently"
Il can't believe you mean what you
said" cried Hetty. "Why--why, If l
loved him with all my heart. soul and
body could not even think Of oh.
! shudder to think OF It'll"
I love you," continued Sara, fixing
her mysterious eyes on those of the
girl. and yet you took from me some
thing more than a brother. / love
you, knowing everything, and am
paying In full the debt he owes to
you Leslie. knowing nothing, is no
less your debtor. Ali this is paradox
ical, 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 am urging or
even advising you to look with favor
upon Leslie Wrandall's honorable. sin
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 ali are, for that matter
Il was sure that you couldn't ask me
30 marry him. couldn't believe"
Forget what have said. dearest,
II it 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 love you that would scourge
you with Wrandallsi''
You are very good to me, Sara"
sobbed Hetty
You will be nice to Leslie?'
Yes, yes! II he will only let me
be his friend"
He asks no more than that. Now.
you must go to bed"
Suddenly. without warning. she held
the girl tightly In her arms. Her
breathing was quick, as OF one
moved by some sharp sensation of ter
ror. When Hetty, In no little won
der, opened her eyes Sara's face was
turned away, and she was looking
over her shoulder as II cause for alarm
had come from behind
What Is lit" cried Hetty anxiousiy.
She saw the look OF dread In her
companions eyes, even as 1t began
to fade
Il don't know" muttered Sara.
Something. | can't tell what, came.
over me. thought some one was,
stealing up behind me- How silly of
me-"
"Ah," said Hetty, with an odd smile,
Il can understand how you felt"
~Hetty. will you take me In with
you tonight7" whispered Sara nerv-
ously. Let me sleep with you. I
cant explain 1t, but am afraid to
be alone tonight" The girls answer
was a glad smile of Acuuiescenca