Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-06-28

snr,a women love YOU. But you have
spoilt your chances with me-lf ever you
had any. I shall hate you as long as l
live"
"I do not think you will" he answered
softly.
Then her tone softened, too. She
changed her manner to one or entreaty'
! "Gilbert, why do you persist In this nor
rible this abomlnable attitude? It seems
| incredible in an Englishman-in man
| I have been accustomed TO regard as
| rentlenan You have always been my
mother's most intimate friend-she tells
me that she cared for you very much
once"-she saw him smile sardonically-
land YOU say you love me. Yet you stand
hare and actually threaten"-the girl
shuddered and covered her face with her
| hands "Oh, 1t is too horrible. You can
not mean it-say you do not mean IT.
She sank into chair and pressed her
| hands against her temples.
He came and stood by her. Listen to
me-" he said quietly. "All these years
have kept my secret and never attempt
ed to enforce my bond. Then wnen you
were in Morocco l realized fully what you
were to me. 1 felt l could never again
endure the risk of losing you. Immediate
ly after your return you began to speak
of your love for this man Arrol. The
other night in that room"-he pointed in
told me that you proposed to marry MIN.
! l saw that ! had no time to win your
| love-that I must claim my reward now
or never" He paused to let his words
sink in. You think l am mean
scoundrel, blackmailer. L tell you that
| no man who truly loves a woman and
sees her about TO be carried off by rival
would hesitate to act as l am doing
never pretended to be a good man.
Goodness is generally a matter of tenn
.fN nt
neighbours opinion. l will make
you love me- Maud
She shuddered again. He spoke as If
he had already won the battle, as If she
was already his.
You are too late, Gilbert" she told
him. 'If I ever could have cared for you
in that way. should have had to begin
sooner. For better or worse, 1 love an
other man." She sprang to her feet and
furiously rejected the hand he held to-
ward her. "Oh, 1 hate myself for even
discussing this matter with you," she
cried. Believe me, feel degraded l
sent for you to see If you would dare TO
propose this Infamous bargain to me
personally. I see that you have so little
self-respect as to do so. Very well,
utterly reject"
Have a care, Maud" The mans voice
rang out sternly; his hand was raised In
warning. Remember that If you repu-
date your mothers bond. that l am re-
leased from all obligations-that my lips
are unsealed."
Her face was deadly white; she drove
her nails into her palms to prevent her
self striking him. 1t seemed to her that
the hate in her eyes must scorch HIM
DO your worstg' she challenged him.
IT have no need to do more than you
are doing. have only to help your
friend-CaptaIn Arrol will welcome my
evidence. 1t was you. not I, remember,
who wanted to reopen the case
IT will ask Captain Arrol not 70 do so.
1 will offer to marry him without his
taking any steps to clear himself!'
"I dare say you would. And for that
reason am compelled to hold this pistol
at your head.
"And II I refuse-as I do refuse!-what
advantage will it be to you to incriminate
my mother?'
at will be no advantage, but 1t will
satisfy my sense of justice-or my desire
for vengeance, II you like. l WONDER 100
how Captain Arrol will feel when he nnds
he has married the daughter OF the
woman who shot her husband and very
nearly let him be hanged for IT."
"You talk like hend!" cried Maud.
She stared wildly at the ceiling, as II IN
search Of inspiration. Il don't neiieVe
you would carry out your threats
'I do not think It would be wise OF you
to act on that assumption" he warned
her.
You would be punished yourself" she
reminded him.
Possibly. might, however. communi-
cate the fact In way which would not
expose me to a charge of completely"
"You are cunning, as blackmailers must
needs be-" sneered Maud. II should love
to see you caught in one of your own
| snares Bahl"-her anger reasserted IT.
self-"I should indeed be fool to sacri'
Ace myself to a man like you. l should
not even gain my END: DO you suppose
. that Martin Arrol win desist from his
, | endeayors TO clear himself at my bid
ding? And II he discovers the real author
of the crime what will It profit thai
unfortunate woman that I have married
! you?"
''Arrol will not trouble 10 persevere II
his inquiries IL you tell him not too
that I am sure. He dropped that mattel
long ago and only revived 1t at you
: bidding. Besides, he stands no ehancI
} whatever without my assistance. HI
would never get at the truth OF tn
! matter"
He saw that she was waverlng MAUD,
he said. with desperate earnestness, ID
not condemn me without reflection.
| lOathe the weapon 8nlch chailc6 mas pu
into my hands; but can reject no mean
OF holding you. You despise m
I as a lover, you think of this man Arrol
I How long have you known him-thre
weeks. four weeks? What do you knog
OF himg You have seen him only IN hi
ship on the open sea, IN a position OF re
sponsibility acting always under the eye
of others. What sort OF man viii he b
on shore? DO you really suppose that tn
! man who has spent the last dozen year
! OF his life as the skipper of tradin
steamer-a fruit boat-hobnobbing with Al
: tha rif-ran Of the Morocco ports. eoul
Be q At mate for you-you a uniyersit
2 Rraduafe, a girl reared In the lap OF lux
; ury and eulture2 II / did not love you,
there we're not this horrible shadow oye
3 the past, ] should still use my utmos
{ endeayors TO dissuade you from thi
match You have never been ID loYe q
I nov. 50 you once told me. Let an olae
3 person than yourself assure you that thi
b 4 mere infatuatlon-a romantic Hane
8 snaenaersd bg lhe sea air the moonA
( nlshfs. the thrilling circumstances o you
Z a@zF nesliae. Moreover fhaF
mass have been something hetHeeu niz
He denIss 4. se does mother koa. e