Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1916-04-06

perhaps can guess enough TO sat
isfy myself"
She gave him a swift, sidelong look
of challenge, instinctively or the de-
fensive.
Why" she almost gasped. what do
you think"
Does it matter what think?"
ut does, to me. l wish to know!"
Well" 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 an~d-extricate
yourself from an embarrassing en-
tanglement-"
But you were wrong!" she pro-
tested vehemently -"quite, quite
wrong! l 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?"
"Oh, l beg of you"
But if you won't understand other
wise-I must tell you, l 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 l had
deceived you; and how l told you it
would be impossible for me ever to
marry your"
Il remember" he assented gravely.
1T was because of that" she said, Il
ran away; because | hadn't been talk
ing idly when l said what | did; be-
cause you were mistaken in me, be-
cause l was deceiving you, because |
could never marry you, and because
suddenly came to know that, If l
didn't leave you then and there, l
might never find the strength to leave
you, and only greater suffering and I'M
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 toto
care a little for me?"
She made an effort to speak, but in
the end answered him only with a
dumb inclination of her head.
HAnI xroy, RON ryo fhan haoafIcn
love wasn't possible between us?"
Again, silently, she bowed her head.
Because l had been a criminal, l
presumed"
you've nj right to say that"
What else can l think? You tell me
you we're afraid l might induce you to
become my wife-something which,
for some incomprehensible reason, you
claim is impossible. What other ex-
PLANTATION 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 / don't under
stand at ALL" he protested. IF that
were SO, if it was your repugnance for
criminal association-why did you go
back to B%annon?"
She started and glanced at him fur
lively, a 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 q
vibrant voice-"you thought l 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 you
will?"
NO" she said slowly. mo; / re
turned to him voluntarily, knowing
perfectly what I vas about"
Through fear Of him"
mo. I can't claim that"
Rather than me-"
| You'll never understand" she toll
him a little YEARLY. 1T was a matte
of duty. had to go back-I had to!"
Her voice trailed off brokenly into
little sob. But as, moved beyond hi
strength to resist, Lanyard put forth
hand to take the w~hite-gloved on
, resting on the cushion beside her, sh
, withdrew it with a swift gesture O
, denial.
mol" she cried. please! Yo
, mustn't do that. You only make
: harder"
r But you love mel"
, Il can't. It's impossible. | woult
! but may not!"
/ "Why?"
! Il can't tell you"
IF you love me, you must tell me.
She was silent, the white hand
4 working ~nervously with her handke,
chief.
A "Lucy!' he insisted-"you must ga
what stands between you and my Low,
I It's true, / have no right to ask, as
had no right to speak to you Of Low,
I But when we have said what we hay
said-we can't stop there. You wi
tell me, dear?"
She shook her head. "It-it's In
n possible" she declared in a chokin
o voice.
n pyou cave me no alternative \