News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1916-09-27

her.
$50 it's over!" she cried--"over, and
I've learned my lesson, and I'm dis
graced forever, and friendless and
stop right there!" he checked hei
roughly. "You're not friendless yet
and that nullifies all the rest. Be
glad you've had your romance and
learned your lesson"
"Please don't think I'm not grateful
for your Kindness" she interrupted
"But the disgrace-that can't be blot
ted out"
"Oh yes it can," he insisted bluntly.
"There's way / know"
A glimmering of that way had only
| that instant let a little light in upon
the darkness of his solicitous distress
for her. He rose and began to walk
and think, hands clasped behind him,
trying to make what he had in mind
seem right and reasonable.
"You mean beg my father to take
me back. I'll die first!"
"There mustn't be any more talk,
or even any thought of anything like
that. | understand too well to ask the
impossible of you. But there is one
way out-a perfectly right way-if
you're willing and brave enough to
take a chance-a long chance"
Somehow she seemed to gain hope
of his tone. She sat up, following him
with eyes that sought incredulously to
believe.
"Have 1 any choice?" she asked.
I'm desperate enough :"
"God knows" he said, you'll have
to bel"
"Try me-"
He paused, standing over her.
desperate enough to marry a man
who's bound to die within six months
and leave you free? I'm that man:
the doctors give me six months more
of life. VIII you take my name to
free yourself? Heaven my witness,
you're welcome to it,"
''Oh," she Eeathed, aghast, "what
are you saying"
''I'm proposing marriage" he said,
with his quaint, one-sided smile.
please listen: l came to this place
to make quick end to- my troubles
but I've changed my mind about that,
now. What's happened in this room
has made me see that nobody has
my right to-hasten things. But l
mean to leave the CONFERENCE.-The
y-and let death find me where it
will. l shall leave behind me name
md little money, neither of any con-
,eivable use to me. VIII you take them,
employ them to make your life what |
t was meant to be? It's little thing, |
tut it will make me feel lot more |
it to go out of this world-to know
we left at least one decent act to |
mark my memory. There's only this |
ar-fetched chance-I may live. It's |
shot, but you've got to |
'ear it in mind. But really you can't |
oSe-"
"Oh, stop, stop" she implored him,
o benefit by the death of a man like
ou-r'
You've no right to look at 1t that
7ay." He had wry, secret smile for
is specious sophistry. you're being
sked to confer, not to accept, al favor.
t's just an act of kindness to hope
ass man. I'd go mad if didn't know
Ou were safe from a recurrence of
he folly of this afternoon"
"Don'tw she cried-"don't tempt
ne. You've no right. You
ont know how frantic 1 am. :"
II do" he countered frankly. ~Pm
spending on just that to swing you
0 my point of view. You've got to
ONE to it. 1 mean you shall marry
le."
She stared up at him, spellboand,
nsensibly yielding to the domination
f his will. 1t was inevitable. He was
less desperate than she-and
10 less overweight and unstrung;
nd he was the stronger; in the ma
ural course of things his will could
lot but prevail.
The last trace of evening light had
AIDED out of the world before they
we're agreed. Darkness wrapped them
n its folds; they were but as voices
varring in black and boundless void.
Whitaker struck a match and APP
lied it to the solitary gas-jet. A thin,
'lue. sputtering tongue of flame re-
ealed them to one another. The girl
till crouched In her armchair, weary
nd spent, her powers of contention
II vitiated by the losing struggle.
Ihitaker was trembling with nervous
ltigue.
"Well?" he demanded.
ooh, have your own way" she said
rearily. IF it must be :"
'It's for the best" he insisted OBJ
-inately. you'll never regret it."
zone of us whether you or l."
ne said quietly. ''Its too one-sided.
GU want to give all and ask nothing
| return. It's a fools bargain"
He hesitated, stammering with sur
rise. She had a habit of saying the
"a FOOLS bargain''-the