The Washington times., 1919-10-12
CHAPTER XVI.
"Lst Meme Take Pity Upon Thasi
None Comfort Thy Crying"

neVe," EstCOurt said, as
4 Norah pleaded her cause
with ali the eloquence at her CON-
mand. my mind is in confusion.
You have upset all my old ideals,
and I can't accept the new ones so
suddenly. I am slow and hard TO
change. am not so adaptable as
you
"But can't y0u understand what
felt, how clung to nay newly
found happiness after the fear and
trouble I had known? I came back
and found you your old self, the
lover OF early days, young and
bright, rei0iced 70 see me. Gould
4 crush all that az a blow? It was
such q delight 20 sun myself Ia
your love and care once more, that
I would have kept them at any
price. I vas 50 tired, I had not the
courage to ruin my own peace and
happiness.
@You could have spoken another
time. There were plenty Of oppor-
tunities for confession f you
wished"
"But ] did not The risk vas too
great, ] was afraid. and each day
made C harder % speak As long
as you loved me / was happy in
way. I knew what I had, but
didn't know what might be- Would
it have. been any use if I had told
you the whole miserable story9
Could you have forgiven me?"
Il can't ten now, it is too late.
At least you would have acted hon-
estly; yOu would not have lived a
life Of deceit and plots and lies.
You would have been brave enough
20 take the consequences. Of your
sin, instead of being at the orders
OF such q man as Delacour
His love and pride were both 50
s0rely, wounded that he hardly
Knew what he said. He tasted a
bitterness worse than death.
@Ah, but I am not brave-I never
was. You didn't love me for my
strength and courage, but for other
things. / haven't changed; am
what I always vas. Won't you
think Of that, Ralph? Can't you
forgive me? II haven't paid the
penalty in public I have suffered
enough IN secret. No one can say
a word n0W-no one knows. Sure
", we might forget and be happy
againT"
"But I know" be said, sternly.
sT couldn't forget. DO you think
such things can be put 50 lightly
asidef That trust and confidence
once broken, are so easily made
whole? While there was doubt
while I was en- ignorance Of this
terrible story and al that it in
volves-I could stil hope, our life
together was stil possible, but
now'-his voice was hard and res
olute-'noW It is out Of the ques-
ton. We must part
EMO. mol" she cried, sharply.
"You don't mean it-you can't. Say
anything you like, have nothing to
do with me, but let me stay. Don't
send me awayi III do anything;
IN never trouble you; you shall Live
your own life, as though I we're not
here; but let me see you sometimes
don't cast me on.
In her agony she threw herself
down By his side, hinging her arms
round him, so that he could not
move.
"What should I do with myself
where should I go2 I'm not ht %
live alone. Say you don't mean II
Ralph. You are bitterly disap,
Dofnted In me; you are sore ana
angry. and I have deserved It al
and more. But give me time-giVe
me another chance and ! viii win
your forgiveness; win atone for
the past. IL you have no love len
for me, show me a little pity ana
Kindness
Fl wiz do everything / can for
Won short Of having you with me.
Won need not be afraid, there shan
be no scandal. How could
I hear 70 see you here" he broke
out. passi0nately, knowing what
know? Should / not question your
every word. your every glance, won.
dering q they concealed anythingE
Could I ever trust you again? And
wouldn't such a life be torture for
us b0th?"
She fen back from him, her
hands dropping 70 her Sides and
rose slowly to her feet. Il was all
over there was nothing more to be
said. He had done with her. She
had no power 70 move him; he
stood outside her influence. She
felt the uselessnes Of any further
appeal
AS he walked toward the door
her eyes followed him. II he
stopped and looked at her even now
there might be hope. But he never
turned around. The door opened
and closed, and she was alone.
For q moment she stood motion
less. Then, with a gasping cry, she
and fen in q heap on the
floor
Lady Estcourt had gone to Little
Haven with Felicity, and EstcoUrt
was left alone at Belgraye square.
81 must have time for cOnsidera-
ton" be had said 20 NOrah. "As
soon as I have decided what % do /
viii let you know. Meanwhile, you
had 1,affar fo1ra UlnfanffuY nrTnv ont ~