The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1916-04-21

you mustn't say that; you mustn't
think IT, / don't deserve II. You
wouldn't say tiff you knew"
Perhaps / can guess enough to sat
isfy myself"
She gave him q swift, sidelong look
Of challenge, instinctively on the de-
fensive
why" she almost gasped, what do
you think"
Does II matter what | think?"
"It does, to me ! wish to knowl"
We'll" he conceded reluctantly, 81
think that when you had a chance to
think things over calmly, while you
waited for me there in the garden, you
decided It would be better TOTO use
your best judgment and-extricate
yourself from an embarrassing en-.
tangIement-"
But you were wrong!" she pro-
tested vehemently - quite, quite
wrong! ran away from myself-not
from you-and with another motive,
too-one that can't explain"
you ran away from yourself-not
from me?" he repeated, puzzled.
Don't you understand? Why make
it so hard for me? Why make me say
outright what pains me so?"
"Oh, beg of you"
But if you won't understand other
wise-I must tell you, I suppose" =" She
checked herself, breathless, flushed,
and trembling. you remember our
talk after dinner that night-how ]
asked you, what if you were to find out
you'd been mistaken in me, that had
deceived you; and how | told you 1t
would be impossible for me ever to
marry you?"
81 remember" he assented gravely.
ut was because of that" she said, Il
ran away; because / hadn't been talk
ing idly when l said what l did; be-
cause you were mistaken in me, be-
cause l was deceiving you, because l
could never marry you, and because
suddenly came to know that, If l
didn't leave you then and there, |
might never find the strength to leave
you, and only greater suffering and un-
happiness could come of it. | had to
go, as much for your sake as for
mine"
You mean me to understand that
you found you were beginning to-to
care a little for me?"
She made an effort to speak, but in
the end answered him only with
dumb inclination of her head.
And you ran away, then, because
love wasn't possible between us?"
Again, silently, she bowed her head.
Because l had been a criminal. I
presumed"
you've no right to say that"
What else can think? You tell me
you we're afraid might induce you to
become my wife-something which,
for some incomprehensible reason, you
claim is impossible What other ex-
planation can infer? What other ex-
PLANTATION is needed? It's ample, it
covers everything, and I've no warrant
to complain-God knows!"
Butt" she began, when he cut
her short
There's one thing l don't under
stand at ALL" he protested. IF that
were so, if it was your repugnance for
association-why did you go
back to Bannon?"
She started and glanced at him fur
lively, frightened glance.
you knew that?"
Il saw you-last night-followed |
you from Wells to the Elysee Palace
hotel"
And you thought" she flashed in a
vibrant voice-"you thought I was in
such company of my own choice!"
"You didn't seem altogether down
cast" he countered. do you wish me
to understand he had recaptured you |
that you were with him against your
will?"
NO" she said slowly. mo; re-
turned to him voluntarily, knowing
perfectly what was about"
Through fear of him"
mo. can't claim that"
Rather than me-"
You'll never understand" she told
him little YEARLY 1T was matter
If duty had to go back-I had to!"
Her voice trailed off brokenly into a
title sob. But as, moved beyond his
strength to resist, Lanyard put forth
hand to take the white-gloved one
'esting on the cushion beside her, she
withdrew it with swift gesture of
lenial.
mol" she cried. please! You
mustn't do that. You only make it
larder."
But you love mel"
Il can't. It's impossible. / would,
,ut may notl"
"Why?
Il can't tell you"
'Tf you love me, you must tell me-"
She was silent, the white hands
nervously with her handker.
hief
Lucy" he insisted-'you must say
What stands between you and my love.
t's true, / have no right to ask, as
lad no right to speak to you of love.
,ut when we have said what we have
aid-we can't stop there. You win
ell me, dear?" Il
She shook her head. Tits inn
ossible." she declared in a choking
oice.
aYou leave me no alternative" he ,