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

|
does Very we'll, we will let that pass.
| Now, | have worshiped you ever since
/ you were schoolgirl with plaits on your
| shoulders, and known you ever since you
were in long clothes. II / love you II
can't be a mere fancy or passing IN
| fatuation; whereas-with him! was ne
| specially eager, l wonder2 Your mother
tells me that he did not want to con-
tinue the acquaintance, that he seemed
anxious to find some excuse for not see
! ing you again"
THAT was not true" broke in Maud,
but she looked away from the man be-
! fore her, for she knew that Martin had
been ready to give her UP. had even
urged that they should part forever
Huron seemed to guess this. II
wouldn't break off our friendship. L
wouldn't give you up whatever barriers
might be erected between u.s." he con-
tinued, fixing his keen eyes upon her.
81 would try all means. fair or foul. to
win you. At present I'm trying foul.
Don't you think L must love you moreY
She hesitated. 81 suppose you love me
in some queer sinister way" she admitted
| grudgngly, (which makes 1t the more
strange that you should try to bully me-
Huron gave a low laugh Haven't you
| jumped to conclusions all this timer he
| suggested when did bully you? You
| at once took 1t for granted that l was
| BOlnG 10 nOld a pistol at your Hea' L
had a fierce row with Oracle the other
evening, and L confess 1 did not spare
| her. She was In a panic at ArroPs re-
| appearance, and at your endeavors to
make him reopen the case. She was
| angry too. that I still preferred you to
her. At last reminded her of the prom
| ise she had given me on your behalf
Well perhaps l did threaten her'-he
paused and looked grave-"I can't regret
it, because our talk made the peril of
my position apparent to me, also the
| value of that weapon which had so long
held in reserve. But 1 don't think 1
should have used II IL I had had to deal
with you alone"
Maud listened to him, biting her lip
nervously, In some way. she hardly
knew how, he had disarmed her, had
even secured certain measure OF SYM
| pathy for himself She realized the
depths of his passion for her, and thus
was able to understand how great must
| be his temptation to use his undoubted
power. She looked covertly at the man.
| Since he had confessed that he loved her
1t struck her that there was something
| strong about him. She hated him, yet
was sorry for him in a way; she could
| not truthfully say that she despised him.
She had a paralyzing sense of being in
his power. Martin seemed helpless and
far away But she loved Martin and
hated Huron. She would marry Martin.
| Then her heart sank. What would be-
come of her mother If she were to tell
Huron so2-if he were to execute his
threat? Once his bolt was shot 1t could
never be recalled.
But the sacrifice demanded of her was
enormous. Nothing less than the sacrifice
of her whole life. Why should she give
up so much for her cold, frivolous, guilty
mother? For that matter, why should
any one sacrifice himself for another? II
was the nature, she supposed, of the
strong to take up the burden. Sacrifices
were for those who were equal to them.
Japanese samurai, Carmelite nuns, mis-
sionaries. soldiers, these threw away their
lives every day that others might live
There was a time when she had longed
to do heroic deeds and enjoy the sweets
of martyrdom. She had envied those whC
had the opportunity OF giving up their
place In the lifeboat to another. Well
now she had that chance Her mother
was clamoring for a place In the life
boat. and 1t rested with her to give II
to, her.
But loveless marriagei-that was no
the sort of sacrifice she had contemplate
| or wished for. Yet Ii was doom whiof
countless girls faced cheerfully fo
money. for position; sometimes merely
out of obedience to their elders.
But supposing she were strong enough
to give up Martin? Her inconstancI
would stab him TO the heart. Then sh'
thought of the man by her side. He haS
been waiting for her five years. Martin
had known her three weeks.
She looked at Huron out OF the corne
of her eye.
81 wish you would ratlfy the promls
your mother made" he said wistfully.
CHAPTER XI.
4
overcome that dislike OF London I
+ which he had confessed on the deck o
the steamer. Richard had introduces
him 10 his tailor and once again he hal
the satisfaction OF being dressed as gen
! tleman. And 1t was a satisfaction, h
confessed TO himself. when he entered
theatre or a smart restaurant and foun
! himself, for the first time in many years
rubbing shoulders with men and wome
OF his own caste. The roughness of mar
l ner and speech thak he mad acquired /
( his dealings with Lascars and nen-
+ often the scum of humanity-slipped froI
+ him without an effort. The eeaseles
5 roar of London that reached him in hi
! room In the Adslphi as a subdued mui
8 muir was. he found as soothing as ia
swish OF the water along the Sidfs sid
/, and the shrieking OF the motors was n
, bad substitute for the stamp Of the er
7 | aines Life is pleasant enough In Londo
I for a well-set-up man OF three OF four an
: 80 with plenty Of loose cash in hi
Z pockets.
/ He was disappointed at having receive
9 no reply from Maud He did not know
' after ALL that he had any reason to el
5 meet one so soon, ana women. he remen
: bered, were never so eager as men
s love business OF anything else. n
3 doubt she must be tremendously ocel
8 MED with her friends Just now after hs
s long absence abroad. He wondered whl
z 4rs. Plessey thought about II. He Al
n ticipated strong opposition from thi
d quarter And yet-the woman might
y grateful, and. II not that. might think
! worth while TO eonciliate him from res
4 sons OF policy. He could never be h'
r friend-of that he was sure. But tn;
t question could only arise when he an
8 Maud we're married and he had TO clez
d himself before that could happen.
6 He called on tae solicitors who had col
s Quoted his defense. MF Raines, 8 genii
= | fresh-eomplezioned man with the appaai
Z anes OF q sporting stockbFoker, remen
= bered the case quite well. ana shoe
8 hands with him warmly When Martl
q explained that he wished tp reopen th
case he shook bis head.
4 ZEE - a1leeI b doing so. 1aH asl