The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1917-02-09


OF her sex!
Il can't stand II any longer, David"
she said breathlessly. ito see you suf-
fer. | know you are suffering, because
I-because I-because IL hurts me SO T.
What glorious crash the tower
madel
David took a quick step toward her.
His pulses throbbed ungovernably.
"Tolnette. what do you meanr His
face was glorious. "Have you-do you
believe In me now2"
you have blottcd out all the past,
David" she said simply.
The JOY suddenly left his face.
"But the past" he said. in dread OF
what her answer might be. "the past
have you forgotten why you drove me
from your Have you forgotten what
treason you charged me withT'
She waved the words aside. THAT
Is all past now, David. 1t Is the fu-
ture that Is everything. And 1 know
now what you mean TO me-"
He clenched his hands at his side.
He would be patient. Was IL possible
that she still believed the empty Sian
der against his loyaltyf
"No, Toinette," he said, as gently ns
he could, 81 have not forgotten your
charge against me. i can never for
get 1t until you say that you were
wrong"
The tower OF pride reared itself up
again from Its dust. Why must he
ask her 10 humble herself still further,
when she had already said so much1
She was silent. He waited for her
answer but none came; and at last,
he bowed gravely.
"Then II Is useless 10 talk of-for-
getting. Please let us end this foolish
play"
He moved ms though to go on with
his work.
"Wait. David I" she said tremulously.
fingers had been plucking nervously at
purple ribbon which hung from her
bodice.
"Wnit, / want 10 give you-a re-
membrance." She lifted the great
shears from the counter and clipped
the sllken cord from Its fnstenings. A
tear ran down and stained 1t with a
darker color. Her fingers twisted the
sorry token, quickly twisted IL into n
wistful emblem such as happy lovers
laughingly give each other--a lovers
knot. She raised her face and her
tI,. o.oa ..,,,tlnJ MO nj ~ thrnpfrh tho
mist that clouded them.
Here, David, take thls-just 10 be
foolish, just TO be foolish for once"
He took II. His hand was trembling.
All his yearnlng for her burned In his
breast, q white caldron OF passion;
but around II closed the unyIeldlng
walls OF his cold passion for his honor.
He could never forget that she had
doubted him once. Until that stain
had been washed away. he could not
forgive. He remembered the young
Sir Philip Sidney Of whom her father.
old Patrice, had so often told him-of
his proud guardianship Of the white
shield Of manly honor he himself had
been only q wearer, but here, In this
new country, he was man and his
honor must be first
"Toinette." he said In n low voice,
"who told you that had acted as
spy1"
The blood rushed TO her cheeks.
This. too, she would give him.
doctor Elliott" she whispered, with
bent head.
"Who is her" cried David In fury.
'That young doctor who comes here
from Louisville7 In Gods name, whnt
has he against met I've never seen
the man! But do you believe him
stlllr
You have never-never denied
never" she stopped mIserably. She
could not raise her eyes 10 face him.
Then nothing else matters, Toin-
ette."
"Oh, David, that doesn't matter el-
therl" she cried. Nothing mattersl
/ want you In spite Of that!"
But he shook his head.
She became very pale again.
II have offered all I have" she said
proudly. IL have nothing more 20 give"
Il can take nothing from you while
you believe me guilty. sly nasne Is oil
I have 20 give you"
Her answer scarcely reached his
ear:
ooh, David, let our love be enough"
The light had faded from the sky.
David looked down at her bent head
and trefnbled
"where IL this man Elliott nowT
be demanded suddenly.