The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-04-22

fail, have this to thank you for-this
one not ignoble impulse my life has
known.
you mustn't say that; you mustn't
think it. l don't deserve it. You
wouldn't say tiff you knew"
Perhaps 1 can guess enough to sat
isfy myself"
She gave him a swift. sidelong look
of challenge instfnctively on the de-
fensive
why" she almost gasped. what do
you think"
Does it matter what l Think"
''It does, to me. / wish to know!"
WELL he conceded reluctantly. 81
think that, when you had chance to
think things over calmly. while you
waited for me there in the garden, you
decided it would be better to-to use
your best Judgment and-extricate
yourself from an embarrassing en-
tang1ement-"
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 l 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?"
ooh, beg of you"
But if you won't understand other
wise-I must tell you. suppose" She
! checked herself. breathless, flushed,
and trembling. you remember our
talk after dinner that night-howi I
asked you. what if you were to find out
you'd been mistaken in me, that 1 had
deceived you; and how 1 told you it
would be impossible for me ever to
marry your"
81 remember he assented gravely.
''It was because of that" she said, 81
ran away; because hadn't been talk
ing idly when 1 said what l did; be-
cause you we're mistaken in me. be-
cause 1 was deceiving you, because
could never marry you, and because
suddenly came to know that, If
| 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. l had to
| So 1o AO4 Jun 0ohO co AOA
NINE
You mean me to understand that
you found you were beginning to-to
care little for me?"
/ She made an effort to speak, but in
the end answered him only with a
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.
presumed"
You've no right to say that"
What else can l think? You tell me
you were afraid might induce you to
become my wife-something which,
for some incomprehensible reason. you
claim is impossible 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 eff that
were SO, If it was your repugnance for
criminal association-why did you 60
back to Bannon?"
She started and glanced at him fur
lively. frightened glance.
you knew that?"
81 saw you-last night-followed
you from Wells to the Elysee Palace
hotel"
And you thought" she flashed in g
vibrant voice-''you thought 1 was In
| oR-
"You didn't seem altogether down
cast" he countered- do you wish me-
to understand he had recaptured yoI
; that you were with him against you
wiT?''
NO" she said slowly. mo: 1 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 toll
him little YEARLY. ct was a matte
: of duty. / had to go back had to-"
Her voice trailed OF brokenly into ;
little sob. But as. moved beyond hi
strength to resist, Lanyard put forth ;
hand to take the white-gloved on,
; resting on the cushion beside her, sh
. withdrew it with swift gesture o
, denial
MOI she cried. please! Yo1
) mustn't do that. You only make
harder"
r But you love mel"
d 81 can't. It's Impossible. 1 would
: but may mott"
! WHY
= 81 can't tell you"
IF you love me, you must ten me.
: She was silent, the white hand
i working neryousIy with her handkel
2 chief
i "Lucyt" he insistedz'you must sa
what stands between you and nv Low,
t It's true. have no right to. ask. as
; had no right to speak to you of low,
? But when we have said what we hay
= said-we can't stop there You wi
d tell me, dear9s
She shook her head. Tits in
n possible. she declared in a chokin
g voice.
al you leave ms no alternative b
i said IN q voice he hardly kueU far N