The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1916-10-20

O0s :x,ns III love with yox because , .,
did believe | had tried 10 Larry your
brother. and"
Mary. ! only knew-for the drDt
ime-that you-that you were"
We're desperately poor" she said.
You can't even say that. Bibbs. 1t
was true: l did try to make Jim want
to marry me. I did, And she sank
down into the chair. weeping bitterly
again. Blbbs vas agonized.
Mary" he groaned. 81 didn't know
you could cry"
Listen" she said. Listen till I get
through want you to understand.
We were poor, and We weren't fitted to
be. We never had been. and we didn't
know what to do. We'd been almost
rich; there was plenty. but my father
wanted to take advantage OF the
growth OF the town; he wanted to be
richer. but instead-well. just about
the time your father finished building
next door we found we hadn't any
thing. People say that. sometimes.
meaning that they haven't anything In
comparison with other people Of their
Owl kind, but we really hadn't any
thinS-we hadn't anything 1T all,
Bibbs. And we couldn't do anything.
You might wonder why l didn't try to
be a stenographer-and l wonder my
self why, when n family loses its
money. people always say the daugh-
tcrs ought to go and be steno.raphers.
It's curious.-as If 4 wave OF the hand
made you into a stenographer. No, I'd
been raised to be either married COM
fortabiy or q well-to-do old maid, if
chose not to marry. The poverty came
on slowly. Bibbs. but at last 1t was al
there-and didn't know how to be a
stenographer. | didn't know how to
be anything except a well-to-do Old
maid or somebody's wife-and ]
couldn't be q well-to-do old maid.
Then. Bibbs. did what I'd been raised
to know how to do. l wen out to be
fascinating and be married. | did IL
openly. ut least, and with a kind OF de
cent honesty. l told your brother !
had meant to fascinate him and that |
was not in love with him. but l let him
think that perhaps l meant to marry
him. l think did mean to marry him.
I had never cared for anybody. and l
thought it might be there really wasn't
anything than q kind OF excited
fondness. l can't b. sure. but l think
that though did mean to marry him
l never should have done it, because
that sort Of a marriage is-it's sncri.
lege-something would have stopped
me. Something did stop ne; 1t was
your sister-in-law. sibyl. She meant
no harm-but she was horrible, and
she put what l was doing into such
horrible words-and thoy were the
truth-oh. saw myself! She was
proposing a miserable compact with
me-and couldn't breathe the air OF
the same room with her. though I'd SO
cheapened myself she had a right to
that l would. But | couldn't,
I left her. and l wrote to yonr brother
just a quick scrawl. | told him just
what I'd done: l asked his pardon. and
| said I would not marry him. | post
ed the letter, but he got 1t. That
was the afternoon he was killed. That's
all, Bibbs. Now you know what l di.
and you know-me!!" She pressed
her clenched hands tightly against her
eyes. leaning far forward. her head
bowed before him.
Bibbs had forgotten himself long
ago; his heart broke for her. Couldn't
YOU Isn't there Won't you" he
stammered. Mary. I'm going with ia
Their. Isn't there some way you could
use the money without-without-"
She gave a choked little laugh.
You gave me something to live for"
he said. You kept me alive. l think
and I've hurt you like this"
Not you-oh no!'
You could forgive me. Nary"
"Oh. a thousand tines" Her right
hand went out in . faltering gesture,
and just touched his own for an In
slant. But there's nothing to for
give"
And you can't-you can't"
Cant what BibbsT"
"You couldn't"
Marry your" she said for him.
YES"
mo, no, no." She sprang up, facing
him. and. without knowing what she
did, she set her hands upon his breast,
pushing him back from her a little. II
can't, l can't! Don't you seey
Mary"
mo. no! And you must go now.
Bibbs; can't bear any more
please"
Mary"
Never, never, n1verr' she cried. In
a passion OF tears. You mustn't come
any more l can't sAe you, dear! Never.
never. never"
Somehow. ia helpless. stumbling obe-
dience to her ~besecching gesture. be
got himself to the door and ont Of the
house.
CHAPTER XXX.