Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1921-09-22
(CHAPTER XVI-Continued.)

given discretion, but this is an order"
IAN Orderp she commented. "Then
If it should not be fulfilled, break it
and take the consequences. The prin-
ciple should be-Do what is right and
have no fear"
II will think it over" answered the
governor what you say has i'm
mense weight with me-mOre even
than l have words to say. Yes, l will
think it over-I promise you. You are
genius-you prevail"
Her face softened, a new something
came into her manner. "You do truly
mean it?' she asked with lips that al
most trembled.
Yes, l alean it," answered Lord
Mallow. 81 mean it exactly as l say
it."
She smiled. "Well, that should be
your recommendation for promotion"
she said happily. Il am sure you will
decide not to enforce the order, if you
think about it. You shall be promoted,
your honor, to better place." she re-
peated, half satrically.
"Shall I then?" he asked with a
warm smile and drawing close to her.
"Shall l? Then it can only be by your
recommendation. All, my dear, my
beautiful dear one," he FASTENED to
add, my life is possible hencefor-
ward only through you. You have
taught leg by your life and person, by
your beauty and truth, by your no.
bility of mind and character how life
should be lived. | have not always
deserved your good opinion nor that
of others. l have fought duels and
killed men; l have aSpired to place; |
have connived at appointment; | have
been vain, overbearing and insistent
on my rights or privileges; | have
played the dictator here in Jamaica;
i have not been satisfied save to get
my own way but you have altered all
that. Your coming here has given me
a new outlook. Sheila, you have
changed me, and you can change me
infinitely more. 1 who have been
master wish to become your slave. l
want you-belOved, want you for my
wife"
He reached out as though to take
her hand, but she drew back from
him.
my lord" she said, "oh, you have
stirred me! Yet dare not reply to
you as you wish. Life is hard as it
is, and you have suddenly made it
harder. What is more, do not, can
not, believe you. You have loved
many. Your life has been covert
menace. Oh, l know what they said
of you in Ireland. l know not Of your
life here. l suppose it is Circumspect
now; but in Ireland it was declared
you were notorious with women"
ut is a lie," he answered 81 was
not notorious. | was no better and
no worse than many another man. l
played, l danced attendance, | said
soft nothings, but l was tied to no
woman in all Ireland I was frolic-
some and adventurous, but no more.
There is no woman who can say
used her ill or took from her what I
did not"
atone for, Lord Mallow?"
"AtOne-nO. What l did not give
compensation for, was what l was go
ing to say"
The situation was intense. She was
in a place from which there was no
escape except by flight or refusal. She
did NJ paoIItr yryich 70
how, there had come upon her the
desire to put all thought of Dyck CAL
houn out of her mind by making it
impossible for her to think of him ;
and marriage was the one sure and
complete way-marriage with this
man, was it possible? Her heart was
for the moment soft to Lord MallOw,
in spite of his hatred of Dyck CAL
houn. The governor was a man of
charm in conversation. He was born
with rare faculties. Besides he had
knowledge of humanity and of won,
en-. He knew how women could be
touched. He had appealed to Sheila
more by ability than by aught else.
His concessions to her were discretion
in a way. They opened the route to
her affections, as his place and title
could not do.
mo, no, no, believe me, Sheila, l
was man who had too many tempta-
tions-that was all. But | did not
spoil my life by them, and am here
a trusted servant Of the government.
am better governor than your first
words to me would make you seem to
think"
Her eyes were shining her face was
troubled, her tongue was silent. She
knew not what to say. She felt she
could not say yes yet she wanted to es.
cape from him. Her good fortune did
not desert her. Suddenly the door of
the room opened and her mother en-.
tered.
There is member of your suite
here, your honor, asking for you. II
is Of most grave Importance. 1t is
urgent What / shall say?"
Say nothing. ! am coming" said
"a.