The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1917-01-04
CHAPTER XVI.

~ iAo Aau suoueniy CONC 10 .
CHAPTER XVI.
The room was very still. The girl did
not even sob. He turned after a mo-
ment and went back to that bowed
golden head there In the deep crimson
chair.
Look here" he said, 81 know YOU
can't ever forgive me. 1 don't expect
IT! 1 don't deserve It! But please
don't feel so awfully about Il. I'll ex-
PLAIN 1t all to every one. I'll make II
all right for you. I'll take every bit of
blame on myself. and get plenty Of
witnesses to prove all about Id
me slrl looked up with sorrow and
surprise in her wet eyes.
Why, ! do not blame you," she said.
m~ournfully. II cannot see how YOU
were to blame. 1t was no ones fault.
IL was just an unusual Happenings
strange set OF circumstances. I could
not blame you. There is nothing TO
forgive, and II there were 1 would
gladly forgive It'll"
Then what on earth makes you look
SO white and feel SO distressed" he
asked in a distracted voice, as a man
VIII sometimes look and talk to the
woman he loveo when she becomes a
fearful problem Of despair to his obtuse
eyes.
"Oh, don't you 2now?"
mo, l don't" he said. you're surely
not mourning for that brute of a man
to whom you had promised to sacrifice
your life?"
She shook her head, and buried her
q In her hands again. He could see
n a the tears were dropping between
her ringers, and they seemed to fall red
hot upon his heart.
Then what Is it?' His tone was
almost sharp in its demand, but she
ohiy cried the harder. Her slender
shoulders were shaking with his grief
now. ~ 800
He put his hand down softly and
touched her bowed head.
/, won't you tell me, dear?" he
preathed, and, STOPPING. knelt beside
The sobs ceased, and she was ou,te
sun Tor a moment, while his hands stiIl
lay on her hair with that gentle. plead
ing touch.
1T is-because you married me-in-
that way-Without Knowing Oh.
can't Q see how terrible
on, the folly n blindness of love,
Goroon got up from his knees as IL she
You need not feel bad about that
any more he said In a hurt tone. "Did
1 not tell you 1 would set you free ar
once Surely no one In his senses
could call you bound after such cir
cumstances."
She was very still for an instant az
II ne a struck her and then she raised
nea soi9en mead, n a pair OF sweet
eyes suddenly grown naughty.
you mean that / will set Won free,n
she said coldly. II would not think OF
letting you be bound by a m~is,,ndsr-
noin when you were under great
siress OF mind. You were in no wise to
blame. will set you Free"
AS 0 please" he retorted bitterly.
turning toward the window again. aft
all to the same thing, There is
flothing Tor you to feel bad about"
Yes, there is" she answered. with a
quick rush of feeling that broke
through her assumed haughtiness. "I
shan always feel that 1 have broken in
upon your life. You have had a most
trying experience with me, and you
never can cutie forget 1t. Things won't
be the same" -
She paused and the quiet tears
chased Zach other %eloquently down her
face.
mo" saiH Gordon still bitterly:
things will never be the same for me, I
shall always see you sitting there in NV
chair. l shall always be missing you
from 1T! But am glad-glad. 1 would
never have known what l missed if II
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 you mean?" she asked
softly.
He wheeled round upon her. 81 mean
that l shall never forget you: that l
do not want to forget you. / should
rather have had these w days of your
sweet company. than all my lifetime in
any other companionship."
oh" she breathed. Then, why
why did you say what you did about
being free?"
Il didn't say anything about being
free that | remember. IL was you that
said that"
Il said / would set you free. I could
not, Of course, hold you to a bond you
/ did not want"
"But did not say I did not want II.
l said would not hold you if you did
not want to stay"
d you mean that II you had known
me a little-that is, just as much as
you know me know-and had come in
there n found u your mistake be-
fore it was too late, that you would
nave wanted to go on with it?"
h waited for his answer breath
lessly.
IF you had known me just as much
as o do now, n a looked up and
seen hat II was / and not George
Hayne you were marrying, would you
have wanted to go on and be married 2"
Her cheeks drew rosy and her eyes
confessed.
Il asked you first" she said, with
just a flicker of a smile.
He caught the simmer of hight in her
eyes. and came toward her eagerly, his
own face all aglow now with q dawnins
understanding.
l. lConfinuad mart waak