The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1917-11-09

the faint beating of a motor engine
In the distance. John set down his
glass. There was a strange look In
his eyes.
"There are more cars passing along
the road now than In the old days"
he muttered; but that's a queer
sound. It reminds one-good heavens,
how 1t reminds one"
There was a look of agony in his
face for moment. Then once more
he raised his glass to his lips.
'It's passed out of hearing" Stephen
said. ITS someone on the way to the
castle, maybe"
Still their glasses remained suspend
ed in midair. The little garden gate
had opened and closed with n click
there were footsteps upon the hlnty
walk.
ITS someone coming herew John
cried hOarsely. "Why can't they keep
away? It's two years ago this week
since l brought her up the drive and
you met us at the front door. Two
years ago, Stephen Who can 1t be-"
They heard the front door open.
they heard jennings voice raised In
unusual and indignant protest. Then
their own door was suddenly flung
wide, and a miracle happened. Johns
glass slipped from his fingers, and the
wine streamed out across the carpet.
He shrank back, gripping mt the table
cloth. Stephen turned his head, and
sat as if turned to stone.
John" she faltered, at isn't the car
this tlme-it is | who have broken
down l cannot go on. | have no
pride left. have come to you. VIII
you help me"
He found himself upon his feet. Ste
phen, too, had arisen. She stood be-
tween the two men, and glanced from
one to the other. Then she looked
more closely into Johns face, peering
forward with little start of pain, and
her eyes were filled with tears.
John" she cried, forgive me! You
were so cruel that morning, and you
seemed to understand so little. Don't
you really understand, even now?
Have you ever known the truth, won
der?"
"The TRUTH" he echoed hOarsely.
Don't we all know that? Don't we all
know that he is to give you your rights,
that you are coming"
UCf,n ~ aEn orJauoJ bt,,,
He obeyed, and for moment there
was silence-a tense, strained silence.
John" she continued at last, 81
have no rights to receive from the
prince of Seyre. He owes me nothing.
Listen! Always we have seen life diff
ferently, you and l. To me there is
only one great thing, and that is love
and beyond that nothing counts. /
tried to love the prince before you
came and l thought did and prom
ised him at last, because l believed
that he loved me and that loved him,
and that if so it was his right. Look
down the road, John! On that night
was on my way to the castle; but |
DTOhe uO"u, anu Ill the llOlllllS lHt
world was all different, and l went
back to London. 1t has been different
ever since, and there has never been
any question Of anything between the
prince and me, because l knew that it
was not love"
John was shaking in every limb. His |
eyes were filled with fierce question
ing. Stephen sat there, and there was
wonder in his face, too.
"When you came to me that morn
ing" she went on, you spoke to me
in a strange tongue. 1 couldn't under
stand you, you seemed so far away.
l wanted to tell you the whole truth,
but / didn't. Perhaps l wasn't sure
perhaps it seemed to me that it was
best for me to forget, if ever l had |
cared, for the ways of our lives seemed