The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1914-08-06

can tell you no more. Why do you I
glare at me as if I were the meanest |
thing on earth? Is this love? Is this !
your idea of greatness? Isn't it enough
for you to know that Sara is my loyal,
devoted friend; that shS-''
Wait!" he commanded darkly. els
it possible that she did not discover
your secret until the day you left her
house SO abruptly? Does that explain
your sudden departure?'
Il can answer that" she said quiet
ly. "She has known everything from
anything, Brandon, to lead you to be-
Wrandall, have I?'
His eyes softened. mo, you haven't.
II hope you will forget what l said
You see, knew Wrandall's reputation
He had no sense of honor. He"
well, l have!" she said levelly.
| He flushed. 81 am a beast! I'll put
it in this w-y, then: Was he in love
with you?"
You are still unfair. shall not an
swer."
He was silent for long time. "And
Sara's lips are sealed" he unused, still
possessed Of doubts and fears.
Until she elects to tell the story,
dearest love, my lips are also sealed. I
love you better than anything else in
all this world. 1 could willingly offer
up my life for you, but-well, my life
| does not belong to me. 1t is Sara's."
For heavens sake, Hetty, what is
all this?" he cried in desperation.
Il can say no more. 1t is useless to
insist, Brandon. If you can wrest the
story from her, all well and good. You
| will hate me then, dear love. But it
cannot be helped. l am prepared"
Tell me this much: When you re-
fused to marry Leslie, was your
course inspired by what had hap
pened in-in connection with Challis
Wrandall?"
you forget that it is you that ]
love-" she responded simply
But why should Sara urge you to
marry Leslie if there is anything
Hush! There is the waiter Come
to my sitting-room after breakfast.
have something to say to you. We
, This cannot go on"
He was with her for an hour in tina
pinched little sitting-room, and left he
, there without a vestige of rancour il
his soul. She would not give an incl
, in the stand she had taken but some
, thing UNNECESSARILY great in his make
. up rose to- the occasion and he wen
, forth with the conviction that he ha,
no right to demand more Of her thai
q she was ready to give. He was salts
;, fed to abide by her decision. TIL
: spell Of her was over him more CON
! pletely than ever before.
! Two days later he saw her off at tn
Care de Lyons, bound for Interlake1
There was complete understandin
9 between them She wanted to be quit
- alone in the Alpine town; he was nc
! to follow her there. She had reserve
- rooms at the Schweitzerhof, and tn
: windows of her sitting-room locke
= straight up the valley to the snow-co7
- cred crest of the Jungfrau. She r,
- membered these rooms; as young gi
, she had occupied them with her fathe
- and mother By some hook or croo]
: Booth arranged by wire for her to hav
, them again, not an easy matter at thu
season Of the year. Later she was I
- go to Lucerne, and then to Venice.
- The slightest shred of hope was lie
-, for Booth. Even though he might a
complish the task he had set unto hir
- self-the conquest of Sara in respe
49, to the untold story-he still had He
-, tvs dismal prophecy that after /
~ learned the truth he would come
70 see why they could not be marie
- But he would not despair
- We'll see," was all that he said
~ response to her forlorn cry that the
were parting for ever. There was