Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1917-01-04

Oo.J w ~ VIA III
exactly the same hurry as ever. when
for him life had suddenly come to a
%standstill.
CHAPTER XVI.
not even sob. Ee turned after a mo-
ment and went back to that bowed
golden head there in the deep crimson
chair.
Look here" he said, "I know you
can't ever forgive me. I don't expect
u! l don't deserve it! But please
don't feel so awfully about it. I'll ex-
plain it all to every one. I'll make It
an right for you. I'll take every bit of
blame on myself, and get plenty ~
witnesses to prove all about tt"
Inc girl looked up with sorrow and
surprise in her wet eyes.
Why. | do not blame you," she said.
Il cannot see how you
We're to blame. It was no ones faint
1t was just an unusual hannenineUs
strange set of circumstances. I could
not blame you. There is nothing to
forgive, and If there were | would
gladly forgive it," ~
what on earth makes you look
SO White and feel SO distressed? ?" he
will sometimes look and talk to the
woman he V when she becomes a
fearful problem Of despair to his obtI,sa
eyes. As oD'ose
oh. don't you know"
NO, don't" he said. you're SURELY
not mourning for that brute of a man
10 Whom You had promised to sacrifice
your life?"
ohe shook her head. and buried her
lace IN her hands again. He co,11d coo
mat the tears were dropping between
her Ilngers. and they seemed to fall rod
not upon his heart. ~"
Then what is it?" His tone wa.
ar,iost snarp IN Its demand. but she
only cried the harder. Her slendar
shoulders were shaking with bis erie.
now. ~ "A Ills sriei
He put his hand down softly ard
touched her bowed head.
won't you tell me, dear7" ba
bpa a and, STOPPING, knelt beside
The sobs ceased, and she was o,,,ta
sun Tor a moment, while his hands stiII
lay on her hair with that gentle n1eaa
ing touch. pieao-
II ls-because you married me-in-
e caa. way-without Knowing Oh.
cant you see how terrible-"
Oh, the folly and blindness ~ love,
Gordon got up from his knees az ~ ~
had stung him. ie as IL she
You need not feel bad about that
any more" he said in a hurt tone a eri
: noe tel you | would set you free at
o ), surely no one in his senses
cumstances." '"eh CIT
She was very still for an instant :.
~ ne nad struck her and then she raisad
nei soloen mead, and a pair OF Su,aat
eses suddenly grown naughty.
-ou mean that 1 will set Won free,"
i -. saso coldly. Il would not think OF
standiins you De bound by a misunder-
stress Of mind. You were in no wiss aea a.
name will set you free" -
as you please" he .retorted bitterly
.uililiis toward the window again. at
an amounts to the same thing. There Ia
rotnlhg Tor you to feel bad about"
1es' there Is" She answered, with a
quick rush Of feeling that hrnls
through her assumed hauehtiness ~
shall always feel that 1 have broken in
upon your life. You have had q most
Trying experience with me, and Won
never can cutie forget it. Things wont
be The same" "O
She paused and the quiet fears
chased each other eloquentlv down ha1
i face. Ao"A g
NO" saia Gordon still bitterly.
thlngs Will never be the same for me, T
snail always see o sitting there in nv
chair. | shall always be missing vou
from 1T! But I am glad-glad. / worid
never nave known what / missed IL T.
had not been for this" He spoke almost
savagely.
He did not look around, but she was
staring at him in establishment. her
blue eyes suddenly alight.
What do o mean?" she asked
softly. ~
He wheeled round upon her. 81 mean
that | shall never forget you; that
do not want to forget you. l hould
rather have had theee two days of your
swee company, than all my lifetime in
any other companionship."
On" she breathed. Then, why
why did you say what you did about
being free?"
Il didn't say anything about being
free that | remember. 1t was you that
said that"
Il said I would set you free. 1 could
not, OF course, hold you to a bond you
did not want
But did not say I did not want it.
I said I would not hold you if you did
not van to stay"
do you mean that If you had known
me a little-that is, just as much as
you know me know-and had come in
there and found out your mistake he
fore 1T was too late, that you would
have wanted to go on with it?"
She waited for his answer breath
llessly.
If you had known me just as much
as YOU do now, n had looked up
seen that it vas l and not George
Hayne o We're marrying, would you
have wanted to 60 on n be married? 2"
Her cheeks drew rosy and her eyes
confessed.
Il asked you first" she said, with
just q flicker Of a smile.
He caught the simmer of light In her
eyes, and came toward her eagerly. his
own ace all agiow now with a dawnina
understanding.
Continued nsxt week.