Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1916-05-03

There's one thing | don't under
stand at ALL" he protested. IF that
were so, If it was your Yepugnance for
criminal association.-why did you go
back to Bannon?"
She started and glanced at him fur
lively, frightened glance.
you knew that"
81 saw you-last night-followed
you from Viers to the Elysee Palace
hotel"
And you thought" she flashed in a
vibrant voice-''you thought 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. l can't claim that"
Rather than me-"
You'll never understand" she told
him a little YEARLY. 1T was matter
of duty. had to go back-I had to-"
Her voice trailed off brokenly into a
little sob. But as, moved beyond his
strength to resist Lanyard put forth a
hand to take the white-gloved one
resting on the cushion beside her, she
withdrew it with a swift gesture of
denial
moi" she cried. please! You
mustn't do that. You only make it
harder"
But you love mel"
Il can't. It's impossible. L would,
but may mott"
"Why?"
Il can't tell you"
If you love me. you must tell me-"
She was silent, the white hands
working nervously with her handker-
chief.
Lucy" he insisted-"you must say
what stands between you and my love.
It's true, l have no right to ask, as l
had no right to speak to you of love.
But when we have said what we have
said-we can't stop there. You will
tell me, dear?"
She shook her head. Tits i'm
possible" she declared in a choking
voice..
said in a voice he hardly knew for his
own, so dull and hollow was it in his
hearing-"I can only think one thing"
Think what you must" she said
lifelessly; lit doesn't matter, so long
as you renounce me and put me out of
your heart and-leave me-"
Without other response he leaned
forward and tapped the glass, signal
ing the driver to stop. And as the
cab swerved sharply in toward the
curb he laid hold of the door-latch.
Lucy" he pleaded, don't let me go
believing"
She seemed suddenly infused with
cold, implacable hostility.
81 tell you," she said cruelty, II
don't care what you think, so long as
you go!"
The face she now showed him was
ashen, it's mouth was hard, her eyes
blazed feverishly.
And then, as still he hesitated, the
cab pulled up, and the driver. leaning
back, Unmatched the door and threw it
open.
With curt resigned inclination Of
the head Lanyard rose and got out.
Immediately the girl grasped the
speaking-tube, the door slammed, the
cab drew away, and left him standing
with the pose, the gesture of one who
has just heard sentence of death pro
nounced on him.
When he reused to know his sur.
roundings he found himself standing
on corner of the Avenue du Bots de
Boulogne.
1t was bitter cold in the wind sweep
ing down from the west, and it had
grown very dark. Only in the sky
above the Bots a long reef of crimson
light hung motionless, against which
the leafess trees of the avenue lifted
their gnarled, weird silhouettes.
While he watched the crimson ebbed
swiftly and gave way to mauve, to VIC
let, to black.