The Elbert County tribune., 1915-02-05
CHAPTER xxiv-conpnued-


was May 20, last year: that was two
days after ! came home from the con-
vent" Her forehead knitted into a
puzzled frown. 1T must have been
that night that morning = when
Enoch had a stag party. and came
in. after you had all gone. 1t was
the first time / saw you. ] have told
you about it-when you sat out there.
waiting for bus"
Yes he whispered
Then afterwards" she raised her
head with quick gesture. we went
TO Juniper Point There you told me
about your play-and you went away
to write it7"
She paused. waiting for Merry to
answer. She did not raise her eyes.
Her head Was bent as II she took the
shame of her brother upon her own
shoulders.
"Yes." The man spoke in slow
whisper.
Then you came back, with the play
finished. and read 1t to Enoch. and he
he claimed it-because he held this
against your" She laid a trembling
finger upon the sheet OF paper.
Yes"
arms lying on the desk. Merry bent
over and gently touched her cheek
"Oh!" she shrank away from him
with 4 shuddering cry. "Oh, how
could you let him do such thing!
1t was SO cruel. 30 inconceivably cruel,
20 shameful. and SO UNJUST 1t was
such a mistake! Why did you let my
brother do such a thing?"
Il don't know Merry spoke abb
ruptly.
Tell me why you let him do it,"
persisted the girl.
Il don't believe / can esplain-to
you" There was a hopeless tone in
the mans voice. For while 1t
seemed to me like a poker debt.
Women cannot understand a poker
debt"
NO. / cannot understand" con-
fessed Dorcas. Then she went on hur-
riedly: Was that your only reason ~
No. l felt that way at first. Then
1t seemed foolish. One night deter
mined for a minute to set myself free.
TO get the play back, and to make you
understand. II was the night-that
Intght-when you took me home-when
you found me in the-when you gave
me new courage and a fresh outlook
on life-when you made a man of
me-"
Dorcas rose and stood facing him
with her eyes searching him. why
Ars - a .
Because" said Merry unsteadily,
do you remember you-no II
asked you-when a man had fallen
~ low as ! had II he had anything
left that would pull him to his feet.
rou said. Yes. so long as he has hon.
or. there is no end of a chance for
him."
OH cried Dorcas aghast. "Oh, to
think that l should have put that in
your way!"
Put what in my way7 Dearest. that
night ! came around the corner-I
had been wandering in the desert.
Suddenly ! found sunshine, l found
love and hope. i found you That
night-when you went away-I began
to understand that 1t was the most
wonderful chance God ever put In a
mans way"
An instant later his arms were about
her and she felt his kiss upon her
cheek.
Don't" cried Dorcas. "Don't.- She
freed herself from his clasp and held
him away from her. Cant you un
derstand. don't you see, Andrew, after
what Enoch did to you. that cannot
be your wife?"
You cannot-be-my-" He stared
st her in bewildered dismay.
Yes, that is what mean, a." she whis
pered tremuously. Don't you under.
stand? How could marry you with
the Thought of this horrible wrong
constantly between us? could never
forget it. Remember it was Enoch, my
brother-don't you understand? ?-my
brother-who did this! How could
you go on loving me and
'Remember-it was your brother
who saved my life.' said Merry pas.
sionately. How could / go on low.
ing you, dearest? How could / stop
loving you? could go through hell
for you. and yet ! confess would
rather be with you in heaven" He
flushed and his face grew grave. you
are mine--all mine-and am yours
so wholly and truly yours that have
grown to think of this world as mere.
ly one spot-one little spot-where we
can make home and can have you
beside me-for the rest OF my life."
CHAPTER XIV.