Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-04-13

IILued uundpplIy. can tel you.
mean ! don't know how to tell you'll"
She kept her face averted, sat gaz-
ing blankly out of the window; but
when he remained mute and unre-
sponsive-in point Of fact not knowing
what to say-she turned to look in
quiringly at him, and the glare Of a
passing lamp showed him her counte-
nance profoundly distressed, her
mouth tense, broWs knitted, eyes cloud
ed with perpleXity and appeal.
And of a sudden, seeing her so tor
mented and SO piteOus, his indigna-
ton ebbed, and with it all his doubts
of her; dimly he OWNED that there
was something behind this dark fabric
of mystery and inconsistency that,
however inexplicable it might seem to
him, excused all her apparent faith
lessness and instability of character
and purpose. He couldn't look upon
this girl and listen to her voice and be-
lieve that she wasn't at heart as sound
and sweet and tender and loyal as any
that ever breathed!
A wave Of tenderness and compass
sion swept his heart, and he realized
that he didn't matter, that nothing
mattered so long as she was spared
one slightest pang of self-reprOach.
He said very gently: 81 wouldn't
have you distress yourself on my ac-
count, Miss Shannon. I quite under
stand there must be things | can't I'M
derstand-that you must have had
your REASONS for acting as you did"
Yes" she said evenly, but again
with eyes averted-'I had; but they're
not easy, they're impossible to explain
to you"
'Yet-when alPs said and done-Tye
no right to exact any explanation"
AN. out now can you say That, re-
membering what we've been through
together?"
'You owe me nothing" he insisted.
whereas / owe you everything, even
unquestioning faith Even though
fail / have this to thank you for-this
one not ignoble impulse my life has
known
You mustn't say that; you mustn't
think it. / don't deserve it. You
wouldn't say tiff you knew"
Perhaps I can guess enough to sat
isfy myself"
She gave him swift, sidelong look
Of challenge, instinCtively on The de-
tepsiye.
why" she almost gasped, what do
you think"
Does it matter what | Think"
1T does, to me. | wish to know!"
Well" he conceded reluctantly. Il
think that, when you had chance to
think things over calmly, while you
waited for me there in the garden, you
decided it would be better to-tO use
your best judgment and-eXtricate
yoarself from an embarrassing en-
tanglement-"
but you were wrCng!" she pro-
tested yehemently = 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
1t so hard for me? Why make me say
outright what pains me 500"
'Oh, beg of you"
But if you won't understand other
wise must tell you, 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 / 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
inc idly when | 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, II l
didn't leave you then and there, |
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 to-to
care little for me?"
She made an effort to speak. but in
the end answered him only with a
dumb inclination of her head.
And you ran away. then, because
love wasn't possible between us?"
Again, silently, she bowed her head.
Because | had been a criminal,
presumed"
You've no right to say that"
What else can l think? You tell me
you were 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, II
covers everything aid I've no warrant
to complain-God knows!"
Butt" she began, when he cut
her short.
There's one thing l don't under
stand at ALL" he protested. IF that
were so, If it was your repugnance fol-
criminal association-why did you &c
back to Bannon?"
She started and glanced at him fur
lively a frightened glance