The Benson signal., 1917-03-31


had got no cakes to fill it at either
fair.
And at last her happiness" was so
perfect that she resolved to endure it
40 longer.
She waited until she found him alone
in the shop, the little room which had
once meant to him the beginning of
lifes joyousness and life's hopes and
which was now prison house whence
ghosts of yesterdays mOcked him with
their memories.
He was about to close it's doors for
the day.
Toinette summoned all her strength.
The tower Of pride was tottering; it
can be sent down in ruins so easily
when a girl throws down the. weapon
of her sex!
'I can't stand it any longer, David"
she said breathlessly, 'to see you suf-
fer. I know you are suffering, because
because I-because it hurts me SO !"
What a glorious crash the tower
made!
David took quick step toward her.
Ills pulses throbbed ungovernably.
'"TO1nette, what do you mean" His
face was glorious. "Have yOu-dO you
believe in me now?" 9
"You have blotted out all the past,
David" she said simply.
The joy suddenly left his face. 4
"But the past" he said, in dread of
what her answer might be, "the past
have you forgotten why you drove me
from you? Have you forgotten what
treason you charged me with?"
She waved the words aside. "That
is all past now, David. It is the fu-
ture that is everything. And know
now what you mean to me-"
He clenched his hands at his side.
He would be patient. Was it possible
that she still believed the empty SIAN
der against his loyalty?
mo, 'Toinette,", he. said, as gently as
he could, 81 have not forgotten your
charge against me. I can never for
get it until you say that you were
wrong"
The tower of pride reared itself up
again from it's dust. Why must he
ask her to humble herself still further,
when she had already said so much?
She was silent. He waited for her
answer, but none came; and at last,
he bowed gravely.
''Then it is useless to talk of-for-
getting. Please let us end this foolish
play"
He moved as though to go on with
hfe work.
"Wait, David !' she said tremulously.
Her eyes were blinded with tears. Her
fingers had been plucking nervOusly at
a purple ribbon which hung from her
bodice.
"Wait, want to give you-a re-
membrance." She lifted the great
shears from the counter and clipped
the silken cord from it's fastenings. A
tear ran down and stained it with a
darker color. Her fingers twisted the
sorry token, quickly twisted it into a
wistful emblem such as happy lovers
laughingly give each other-a lovers
knot. She raised her face and her
blue eyes smiled wanly through the
mist that clouded them.
@Here, David, take thiis-just to, be
foolish, just to be foolish for once"
He took it. His hand was trembling.
But his face was steel, unforgiving.
All his yearning for her burned in his
breast, a white caldron of passion; ;
but around it closed the unyielding
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 ho0Or; he himself had
been only wearer,, but here, in this
new country, he was a man; and his
honor must be first
"Toinette," he said in low voice,
''who told you that I had acted as a
spy?"
The blood rushed to her cheeks.
This, too, she would give him.
doctor Elliott" she whispered, with
| bent head.
"Who is he?" cried David in a fury.
''That young doctor who comes here
from Louisville? In Gods name, what
has he against me? I've never seen
the man! But do you believe him
still?"
''YOu have never-never denied
never she stopped miserably. She
could not raise her eyes to face him.
'Then nothing else matters, Toin-
ette."
"Oh, David, that doesn't matter Ell
ther" she cried. Nothing matters {!
want you in spite of that!"
But he shook his head.
She became very pale again.
II have offered all have,". she said
proudly, II have nothing more to give"
81 can take nothing from you while
you believe me guilty. My name is all
have to give you.''