The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-06-22
CHAPTER ~.
The Divine Rival.

For an instant Sally's heart pound
eG so she could scarcely breathe. The
weak woman In her was struggling
sharply with the cool, self-command-
ing nurse. But as she forced herself
to search Steves face she saw the
truth. II was not love she read in
his eyes. II was affection. respect and
the desire for fairness and understand
ing The old feelings. nothing more.
The upleap Of her blood subsidized.
Balance returned. She could think
clearly. and thank God, keep firmly
to her purpose. Her senses had hut-
tered for a moment, not her reason.
She turned away with half smile.
Don't go, Sally" repeated Stephen,
like this--without half understanding.
| know from the few hard words Of
your note that you felt bitter and did
not understand"
~ understand so well.' said Sally
quietly. that there is nothing more
to say. wrote you a long letter.
Steve. In the night-and tore 1t up.
because the light came and saw
things clearly"
~ see," said Stephen, looking grave
ly down at her Il suppose he went
on. as though thinking aloud rather
than talking to Sally. that there is
hardly living soul who would under
stand. People think I'm a william,
beast. Yet I've been through my
Gethsemane. I've not done this thing
lightly. Sally. I've hated myself I've
scourged myself. I've threshed 1t out
In the watches of the night. I've
tried to see it from all angles, I've
reasoned, but reason isn't enough
There's got be be something-else
Oh, I'm not trying to excuse myself.
God knows, only to explain. so that
perhaps we can go on being friends,
Sally as we always have been?"
He paused on an upward intonation,
watching Sally with a hunger for un
derstanding that wrung her heart.
She did not dare trust herself to
speak. She only prayed that he
would finish quickly and let her fly
back to the refuge of her work. He
waited moment, then went on with
an effort his gray eyes full of trouble
81 should never have done this
thing If | hadn't felt in my heart
that anything else would have been
unfair to you, beastly. cowardly. I'M
fair! That is the truth. Somehow
we seemed sister and brother. Tell
me, Sally, have done wrong? Would
you rather ! had said nothing-let
things go on until you sensed it your
self and--realized the mistake? Would
you Sally-tell mel"
His voice was hoarse and unnatural
Sally felt it like physical grasp.
She had to answer. More; she had
to answer truthfully, for she was be-
ginning to see his side
NO Steve; no. no, no! You could
do no other way. 1t would have killed
me TO find it out-later.
And now please go, have work to
do. We may be told to leave at any
moment. Goodbye, Steve" And Sally
held out firm hand
Torrance went quickly. Half way
down the path something made him
turn and glance through the window
Did he fear to see Sally dropping
weakly into a chair. her face buried
to hide her flooding tears? No such
vision was there.
Instead, briskly moving Sally, a
Sally with composed face and busy
hands. lighting the gas, bending over
the fat suitcase, Strengthening chairs
and finally disappearing through the
door that led to the kitchen and Lot
tie, who was mixing a cake for sup
per.
In all the history Of the world there
probably never was a man even a
strong, fail-minded man, who beheld
unstirred the spectacle OF his once
"adoring slave turned into a calm
woman with other absorbing interests,
Had Sally's interests been the puny
makeshifts of the girl who, disappoint-
ed In love, takes up" drawing or