Evening times-Republican., 1914-01-05

0000 WS0 yO0. AZ WoS my rlS0C, my
duty. given me BY our love. What
should I have done II anything had
happened-if had been left alone?'
She touched his shoulder with the
lightest Of pressure. yet it was exceed
ingly repugnant to him. and he squlrm-
cd In his seat, nnally arising.
'Nonsense! You've plenty Of friends,
Nosay' he exclaimed. annoyed
"Friendsr' she responded in a pecnl.
lar injection.
EYES," he went on hurriedly, but still
firmly, "you always had before We
met and will again after Even he
could not yet finish the sentence.
"Aftsr whatY' she asked, leaning far
over toward him.
Brancaster took q deep breath and
nerved himself.
"Aftsr you've forgotten my exist
ence," ho said; friends who'll amuse
you for the day, entertain you. invite
you here and there. for this race week
or that season, - did"
"Did7" she asked, repeating the past
tense meaningly.
! "Yes," went on Brancaster. affecting
! not to notce when you were tired
with town and wanted rest ana quiet
In the country"
The woman's voice now became low,
intense and full OF q sinister threat.
"was that quite the spirit Of your
invitations, your letters. your protesta-
dons?' she asked quietly.
Brancaster shrugged his shoulders.
"oh. we'll. surely no midsummer mad
ness is expected to live through an
autumn" he said firmly.
The woman was now on her feet and
quite close to him. while her eyes fair.
" blazed into his.
'what are you trying to tell me. Hu-
bert?" che demanded.
'.That-that when 4 man has been al
near to death as have" he continued.
! ''he learns to look at life differently,
more clearly and
She broke in with:
"Stu6! When the devil was sick
the devil saint would be!' You've .
ht OF the dismais. and don't wonder
after a month of prunes and prisms in
| q place like this. Come back to the
Rievers. Wen ask some checry peo-
pie down to stay. You'll be yourself
again.
II am not coming back to the Rie-
vers." he said shortly.
"Eh? Well. 1t is gloomy. Much jol-
lier to meet again In town."
NO." he said
Then whsre!'
Nowhere" be replied. I'VE can't
meet again at all"
Cant? Why?" she asked. ready for
the clash.
All that's over, Nora" he said. ''I'm
sorry, but it's best to say. It out. I've
determined between rs this today Is
'goodby'"
do you forget that you asked me to
be your wife!' she said.
'@That was before he began and
paused.
Before pack Of lies were published
IN the papers," she finished for him:
suspicious that was
never called to answer-that were only
half believed because = because = you
| know how defenseless a woman ~
nothing was proved! Did ever de-
ceive you about myself? l told you
everything''-
-Everything?" 80!
Eyes"
Il am sorry" he said, 'but do not
remember-the statements l read about
you last week. you did not explain. l
remember no explanation from you"
''Tou DO not remember many things
that happened before your accident-as
Sir Andrew said." she replied.
Some es-certainly." he respond
ed
'.Trides!" she exclaimed. 'sYou forget
that you confirmed your promise to me,
Hubert. whatever the world says Of
me, thinks Of me. you were different.
told you all. You knew-and under
stood. Shan't we walk down the old
paths together agnin? Won't you lead
me to the new life, the hope you prom
isedy'
mora. forgi:e me-" said Brancaster.
in deep agitation. "but whatever ]
promised did not then know
But the woman interrupted savagely:
"That you'd meet Di Sartoris. chit
Of a girl simpering over a sick man,
and fall in love with herw
''That has nothing to do with It," he
said. resentful that Lady Diana's name
had been brought into 1t.
ut has everything sine asserted.
every we'll. then, have it your own
way" he said III rye been fool
I'll stop in time. There's the truth
and that is-goodby."
To the relief Of Brancaster q servant
entered ana give him note. which
he saw at once had been written by
Beverley.
II was to ask your lordship to read
It at once" the servant said and with
drew.
With q muttered apology Brancaster
tore open the envelope. and then. hav-.
ing partially read the note, looked
kesn1y at AffE D'AQgila. u.
About une." she aSked. + ~ 4 4. 4 4
&, -Yesy1 N aneweres
~ q e. sc - IN ] shrss
e jpei6srsnce.