The Washington times., 1918-03-04
Read Right On in Today's
Installment.
Part One-(Continued) }

! Esther's lips had gone very
white. She shook her head, hardly
trusting herself to speak.
"You will forgive me speaking TO
you," pursued Mrs. Borradale gen.
tly, "but you know that my son is
very, very dear TO me, and his hap
piness is my chief concern. He
loves you, for he has told me so.
You too, have admitted that you
love him. I know that you do SO,
for, old as am, my eyes are still
keen. Well, dear, that being so,
he should not be despondent as he
seems to be. He has said things,
too-oh, accidentally, ! assure you
that have troubled me and made
me think. Tell me, Esther, is there
any-sny difficulty about your en-
Eagement TO him?
I'VE Are Not Engaged Said Esther.
. I'VE are not engaged" murmured
/ the girl. She had dreaded this mo-
ment, but now It must be faced.
( Not engaged! But have taken
, It for granted that everything was
settled between you This is the
, cause OF his trouble without a
doubt" She raised herself on the
sofa, and her forehead contracted
In a frown. why is 1t, Esther, IL
you love? Surely you did not re-
fnSa him?"
Mrs. Borradale," said Esther
painfully. ION the night thRt-that
this happened your son asked me
10 marry him. He told me he loved
me, and IL could not help letting
him see I loved him. l could not
help letting you see il too, for when
he was hurt 1 thought that my
heart would break. 1 do hove him
oh, never doubt that"
But you-whst did you say when
he asked you to marry him?r
Il said / could not" answered the
girl firmly. .
You could not? But why-why?"
81 told him there was a curse
upon my life as there is on his"
He knows nothing of II, poor
boy" Mrs. Borradale murmured. Il
hope he never may. ! trust 1 may
not be forced 70 reveal Il to him.
But. Esther, it is not that"
Il would marry him despite a
hundred curses" cried Esther. but
81 is something in my own life OF
which l may not-dare not speak"
"In your life? You, so young, so
Inexperienced?
Esther pressed her hands to her
bosom. They crushed a rose which
she had placed in her dress. and the
petals fell UNDECIDED into her lap.
Loved Harold, But Cannot Marry.
81 was made a victim" she said,
~and I am held in bondage still.
dare not marry until know that I
am free to do SO. have suffered.
and / have gone through terrible
experiences. 1 shudder when l
think OF them now. You. who have
TO bear a secret and bear It alone,
can you not feel for me?
Il love him So" she sobbed. "Oh,
love him too well to bind my
wretcho life to his, even II 1 was
free to do So"
Esther" said the other, '1et us
look at this matter reasonably II
we want to arrive at a solution of
it. Ny son is in love with you. and
wants you to marry him. / believe
he will get well as soon as he
knows there IS no obstacle to this.
There Is an obstacle-but II l under
stand you ri ht you are not sure
that II may not be overcome. Did
put the case correctly"
Esther nodded. So far there was
nothing 10 be said
well, is It not your first duty 10
be able TO give my son a definite
answer? II II Is nay he must abide
by IL. But a state OF indecision-
oh, can't you understand what that
must be TO him? You have a secret
perhaps II is something that you
have aggravated in your own mind
beyond all due proportion, but 1
won't even ask you to make q con-
fidante OF me. You must know
whether you are free TO marry
or not-that is all I want you to
tell me. II you say you are I will