The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-11-11
THE BRIDES HERO
Copyright Frederick Stokes CODY MRS A. M WILLIAMSON
Next week-"THE woMAN's LAW" by Maravene Thompson

| happy / am to hear you say that"
DON'T" he exclaimed. "You
make. me feel a monster of cruel
/ ty."
"Oh-why?" 49,. 49,
Because word or two Of
mere decent appreciation makes
you happy. So little as that! 1t
shows what you've lived through.
these last months. VIII you for
give me-now?"
There's nothing, nothing to
forgive. How should you think
there was-from me to you I've
spoilt your life, and all In vain,
because Laurie couldn't be saved,
and you needn't have sacrificed
yourself II you'd known"
IF death were an enemy, your
companionship would give me
courage and strength. to face
him." Miles said. For you are
true and loyal, as we'll as brave.
But the horrible part is that YOU
must die too-you, so young, with
so much to make life happy If you
! were rid of me-"
rid of you!" / echoed, in a
voice of protest. why, life
wouldn't be life without you.
Don't you understand"
How can 1 understand" he
asked, when I've done everything
to make you hate me since we
married?"
"Ah, but you see," l answered,
81 loved you SO desperately be-
forehand!"
"You love me-beforehand?
Let me hear quickly, lest the end
come and rob me of it."
TITS not interesting enough for
you to care about" warner him.
"Only, ever since / was a little
girl / loved you. / used to keep
your photographs, and things
written about you in the papers.
1t seemed almost too wonderful to
think of seeing you in England.
Then, when we did meet, 1t was
the day you came to tell Lady
Meldon of your engagement, l
prayed for you to be happy-with
Comtesse Helene Garde. After
her death, l thought it would be
good for you to go on believing
in her always. Besides, there was
poor Laurie. Would any one,
with a human heart, have made
mischief between you and him?"
81 know" Miles said gently. II
know how l misunderstood you
that night when he way dying. He
told me--many things after you'd
gone"
"Not-not what I've told you
Itonight?" stammered. mot
that cared? He promised he
wouldn't tell that"
"He kept his promise. So he
knew, Them"
Eyes, he knew. He guessed
when you were ILL"
81 might have guessed, too, IL ]
hadn't been a blind fool. You've
told me something about your
self. Now it's my turn. While
there's time I'll tell you what /
found out as I grew better and
what I've gone on finding out ev-
cry day since. At first I called
the new feeling treachery. But
when Laurie made his last con-
fession | knew that I'd had-the
right instinct all through. Now
! do you guess what 1t is l have to
I tell your"
NO." l said, 81 can't think you
a traitor"
Il was a traitor to a dream
before I knew that it was a false
dream. You thought-every one
thOught-that when Helene was
killed l nearly went made for love
of her and the loss of her. l never
expected to tell any one this side
of the grave that that wasn't true.
But you have right to my truth.
And | give 1t to you. nearly lost
my reason in shame and remorse
because - my heart wouldn't
break for her. 1t couldn't. l did
not care as | ought to have cared.
| hated, loathed and despised
mystelf for not caring more. I
had to face my soul, and realize
that what I'd believed an over
whelming love had been Iaere pas
sion for a beautiful siren woman
such infatuation as a man like
me should be ashamed to feel, I'M