Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1915-07-29

He felt his wrath leaping high, wrath
against himself, against fate-not
against her.
Yes, we must" she said bravely,
"for I may never speak TO you again.
have tried to think what It could be.
And now-now l know! l understand
at last. 1t was because you loved your
brother SO much-because you loved
him so that nothing else mattered at
all. Isn't that 1t, Andrew?"
"Yes, that is it," he answered husk-
fly.
Bat don't you see-don't you seeT
she questioned with the fierceness Of
one bereaved. you've hated the man
love. And because you think he sac
rificed your brother whom you loved
now you Will sacrifice me in the same
way. Don't you see, Andrew" Her
eyes probed the farthest recesses OF
his soul. They tortured him with their
poignant reproach, yet he could not
turn from them so great was the
strength of her weakness.
But, though he understood too WELL
he still struggled impotently against
her, against a self he thought dead
mo, no." he stammered. mo, T.
Lucene went on:
You can't ruin his life, Andrew,
without running mine too. You can't
you can't" Her voices music rose
throbbing. Don't you care what be-
comes of me, Andrew? Do you know
you are turning my love into hate?
You don't want that. Oh, you don't!
/ know you don't. Andrew. You are
not going TO tell me now that hate, not
love- is To rule your life and mine. Oh,
surely, Andrew, you are not going to
send me through the rest of my life
hating you as you have hated him
not that. No, Andrew, you can't
tell you, you can't
Slowly. at last, the lids dropped over
Andrews eyes. He turned his head
little, with Il movement of lassitude.
Then the lids were lifted again, and
he looked full into the eyes of Vain
wright, and his own were inscrutable.
In his voice sounded Il note Of futile
I've hated you for years." he said
| quietly, 'as you know very well. You
are aware also that my hatred Of you
has been my ruling passion since its
beginning. In that time, all my days,
yes, every waking hour, have been de-
voted to the task of accomplishing
your ruin This in the instant Of my
<....,
low Of my hand. with the power and
the will TO crush you. Well sir, /
open my hand-and let you CO."
An imperious gesture restrained the
exclamation that rose to Wainwright's
lips.
The explanation of this Inconsistent
cy is very simple. 1t lies in the fact
that / am a fool-the greatest fool in
all this world of fools. So, because /
am such a fool, you are safe from me,
Mr.. Wainwright-now and always. l
wish you good morning" He moved
toward the door
But the wife, radiant in an instant.
would not have 1t so.
Andrew" she cried. "Oh, thank
God.-not only for our happiness, but
for your sake, too since love has con
quered hate, at lastr'
The Master Mind spoke heavily.
II only know" he said cOnfusedly,
that the most unlikely thing in all
the world has happened. | mean that
In the hour of victory my triumph has
70 IL,
know that, since | cannot crush my
enemy alone, l cannot crush him at
ALL No other could, | think, but you.
Lucene-you've beaten me-"
Lucene spoke very gently.
'Then / was right all this time. You
did love me, and you do stillY
Andrew shook his head doubtfully.
Il only know" he said, that l can
not do you harm"
Lucene made an impulsive step as If
to follow him, then checked herself.
This man still held in his heart hatred
for the husband she loved.
Where will you 90, Andrew
He answered very gravely, sadly:
Il do not ow-only, not back into
the shadows whence | came" He
paused for Il little, and added, wist-
fully: BE happy, Lucene, and remem-
Der sometimes, If you Will, that, after
ALL il was | who brought you your
happiness" Then he went quickly
from the room, and so out Of their
lives. But the happiness that had been
his gift abode with them always.