Gilpin observer., 1915-05-20

claim? But i do not plead for my
own sake, but for his. Have you
realized what your love will come to
mean to him in the end?" Myrtle
spoke more passionately than Gerald
could have suspected. Il am not a
woman of your experience, but can
see the end-the disillusionment--the
bitter grief"
We'll, I'll risk that" said Stella
roughly. do you suppose that you
can-can frighten our love away? We
are ready to make the ultimate sacri-
flee. That is what our love means to
us. l tell you, you child, that if
knew our love would only last a single
week l should still utter no word to
turn him from his purpose. Now you
can go. / refuse--do you hear me?
Take your puny love away. and find
some other man"
Myrtle groped for the door. She
could say not word more. The wom-
ans insolence, her violence appalled,
her. She had not dreamed that such
things existed in life. And it was un-
endurable that this woman had won
Gerald from her. If it had been an.
other woman, someone more worthy
of Gerald's love than she but
this Stella, this dancing woman, older
than her appearance, this woman who
might almost have been her own
mother.
Sick with horror she turned away
Her heart was broken, her little world
of illusion shattered.
She knew that within an hour Ger
aid was expected at Stella's apart
ment. The dancer had taunted her
with that. Gerald had given no hint
of his intentions; outwardly he had
worn the mask of affection. And in
a few hours this woman would be his,
and he hers!
The little bride never knew how
she reached home that day. When
| she arrived she flung herself upon
her bed and lay there silent. She
prayed that she might die. And even
then she could not believe that she
would never see Gerald again.
".
| 1t might have been two hours later
that she started up out Of her stupor
of despair. Somebody had entered
the house. The footsteps sounded like
| Gerald's. She sat up and listened in
credulously.
| The steps were coming into her
| room.
The door was opening, and her
heart beat fast 1t was Gerald him
self. He was upon his knees before
her his hands clasping hers.
Myrtle! l am going to tell you
! something that will kill your love for
| me forever. l do not want to tell you,
but can live this lie no longer"
Suppose know, Gerald?"
What" he cried, searching her
face incredulously.
IF you love her" began the girl.
Myrtle, love her-and I am 60
ing to drive her out Of my heart for
ever. Do you know all? Do you know
how loved her before my mothers
death? How tried to forget, until we
met again? You know"
He saw she knew, but she said moth
| ing, and only stroked his hair as she
bent over him.
Il was to have gone away with her
| she told me she had changed her
mind. She is going to marry Leo
Marcel her partner. She gave me no
reason. l love her, and yet, when l
think how she tricked me. / almost
hate her. dare not ask you to for
give me. Myrtle. and yet. unless you
can. | shall kill myself. I need you
| so sorely. MYRTLE"
Il forgive you, Gerald" whispered
the little bride. You see, l know all
now. and I know that you only mar
ried me because of your mother. You
never loved me-"
II loved you and love you now. 1t
was infatuation. and she has gone a
long way toward curing it. Oh, Myr.
tie, forgive me and make man Of
me, for the sake of that love ! hope
to offer and to obtain"
Her arms held him fast. She bent
lips. They were so still and needless
of all else that neither saw the wom-
| ans face at the window.
Stella crept softly away, and there
was a light on her face which, could
they have seen 1t, would have given
| each to understand that men and
women are better than they know.
During the hour that passed be-
tween Myrtle's visit to Stella's fiat
and Gerald's something had happen
ed which had changed the face of the
world within the dancers heart.
1t was the report of the detective
agency which had investigated the
matter that she had intrusted to them
after Gerald's marriage. 1t was the
search for her child, abandoned long
years before, when Stella became a
mother. brought to its unexpected
| finale.
Your child" they wrote. lis living
| in this town. Her name is Mrs Ger
old TopDla -