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


"You are talking nonsense" retorted
Maud. INV mother had no power to plnd
me or give a promise on my oehai' NO
one can do that for another person. least
of all for a child under age. You must
have known that at the time.
She spoke proudly and hrmly, y,,,,,I, Du' n', snu
did not relish his challenge. WIN you
honor the check or dishonor NJ
",rhat in a sense Is true" observed
Huron. still pacing the room, his hands
behind his back, but was cohtraCtinb
with your mother not to do sornethins
which, It was reasonable to assume Sou
would not wish done 49,,
~ fail TO understand you" said Maud,
not sure whether she did or not put
anxious to gain time for reflection
your mother asked me not to publish
what l knew-that Is to say. not 10 netray
her. Would you have wished me TO
He stopped in his walk and met her
ewes with direct inquiry.
mo, 1 should not" she answered.
"Very we'll, then I asked your mother
TO nay the only price which l would nave
taken for my dlshonor at that tlme-for
it was dishonor to keep silence. as you
Yourself think 1t seems to me- therefore,
NAT she-vour mother-had some author
ity for pledging your word; but VIII
release you from 1t II you like,
you will" cried the girl dellghtediy'
YES. but you understand what that
will mean. If l am to treat the pledge
pfven by your mother as null and void,
am free to behave exactly as l proposed
to do before that pledge was given.
I'm other words, to betray my
mother?"
''Why not7 If you repudiate that prom
lse 1 shall have been tricked. And you
lnsulted me not long ago for not assert
ing Martin Arrol's innocence"
Maud went very pale as he turned TO
the window The silence In the room was
oppressive. She watched a little white
cloud pass behind the tower of the mu-
scum and then spoke again.
'It all amounts TO this-blackmail. You
are using your knowledge OF my mothers
guilt to get hold of me. Why are you
doing it7 Do you pretend TO love me?'
'I do love you. That is why am try
ing TO enforce my bond. If 1 was vul-
gar blackmailer II l wanted money or
yaluables couldn't l have extracted them
from your mother years ago|
"Perhaps you did," put in Maud calmly.
He started slightly, but she did not see
that, as her back was towards him. you
have no right to suggest that" he began
hotly, then resumng his calm tone he
reminded her, you have heard the say
ing, 'All's fair in love, and war
"I have often wondered what particu-
larIy mean trick that saying was In
vented TO excuse" rejolned Maud medl-
tatively, "but it isn't true. All is GER
| tainly not fair in war-polsoning wells OF
| firing on a flag OF truce, for instance. No
love could excuse such meanness as you
disgrace yourself by contemplating"
call my conduct by what name you
like" he retoFted fereely. I'VE won't
| quarrel over words. I know that l want
| you more than l have ever wanted any
| thing on earth-that for flve years past
| have lived In the hopes of getting you
| / should indeed be a fool II threw away
my pistol. especially as you have told me
| that you love another man"
/ Somehow when he had said that he did
/ not appear altogether the contemplate
thing she wished 70 fancy him. The sav-
age Intensity OF his passion, his satanic
Indifference TO all moral considerations
| Impressed her IN spite OF herself Sh'
took a long time 10 reply.
You are a great fool. Mr.. Huron. How
| could you possibly get me by such meani
! as you indicate? Suppose you forced m'
to marry you-what thenf'
II would be content"
Maud smiled derisively. You don't ap
| pear TO realize that / could make you
ne a hell upon earth that ! could dehl
| YOU my presence, that I could withdraw
| myself further from you than have eyel
| been You talk as II marriage necessarily
/ meant love We promise 10 love, honol
| ana obey, but IT'S not within the poWe
IN any one 20 promise anything but thl
last and / am not the patient Griseldi
| txna Of woman. Mr. Huron. You know
| very we'll that I'm not. You would b
| sorry--yery sorry-Within q hours tha
! you had married me
Il do not think so.' he said simply II
/ viii be q risk worth taking And h
/ aaaaed to aarour her with bis eyea
sYau know yourself that I'm III low
salth another man. she said eHou don
{ t.,s.s.aita Do ua1f that Hnu would eve