The Washington herald., 1921-10-09
By RUBY AYERS
D q . q . > = . . . . 9

kind Of you-to say Eooo-py 10
me: I hadn't dared hope He
could not 80 on; he half turned
away, and with sudden, passionate
impulse she caught his arm.
Don't eo-oh. don't goi" she
pleaded.
The words were only a whisper.
but they beat against his heart as
IL they had been loud enough 20 hii
all the spaces OF the world, and for
a moment he stood like a mar
turned to stone. not daring 10 look
at her, not daring 20 believe that
he had heard straight. until she
said again. her voice all broken
with tears: Don't 80! on don't
co."
He turned slowly round. his face
marble white. You don't UNDER
stand what you're saying. he broke
out hoarsely. You don't know
what IL means. I'm q waster. q
black guard. everything Mr.. Hard
ting called ma. and-and even n I
were not-vhst have I got TO ofers
your Nothing! I've lied TO yeu. I've
deceived your
You said you loved me-" she
whispered.
Loved ycui" he caught his bressh
with a hard sound. Her hand stole
UP TIL Il rested on his shoulder.
"wssn't it-truef" she asked, pain
fully.
He dared not trust himself 10 an
swer; he broke out again desperately;
I'm Fernie's son, and you always
hated him!"
There Was a long silence; then
hA soHA fafaflxT Nhaf hA hlTflN
caught ihs words: II don't care
whose son you sre-I love you"
The Fortune Hunter looked away
form her 10 the open door and the
moonlit road; the blood was rearing
in his ears; a thousand voices Of
temptation whispered at his heart
Why go. when she loves you3 Love
and life and happiness are waiting
for you here, II you will but take
them
He laughed aloud. as 10 the voices
had been real. Love! without trust
without truth! It could never be.
He broke out again wildly. 'T
can't! I've no right. Let me re!
Tn not ht to touch you, =
Her hand fell away from his. And
you were going-vithout q word TO
me."
He faced her desperately. what
else could doP You said you
wished II. Eou said you hoped never
to see me again, and yeu are right
I've had my glimpse Of paradise.
more than deserve. Lat ne go.-
And what about mer she said, as
she had done once before that even
ing. He made gesture Of despair.
Your he echoed breksnly. Ny
dear. what can / do for you'"
You can stay with me-"
She spoke bravely enough, then,
quite suddenly, her eourase seemed
TO fail; she svayed and would have
fallen, but for his arm
He dropped his coat and hsIf-led,
half-csrried her into the library. The
Ere had burned lev and the room
was empty when he put her gently
into a chair and stood watching her
with broken-hearted eyes.
For q little while she sat quite
still, her face hidden in her hands,
then she rose TO her feet suddenly,
catching the Fortune Hunter by the
lapels of his coat.
II suppose I haven't any pride" !"
she said wildly. Il suppose ! ought
to be willing TO die rather than say
what ] must say. but ] can't help
IT, / love you. / thought when ]
knew-that IL had all gone-for-
ever: that you had killed every
thing I ever felt for you; but it's
not tFue-I I've yu; TIL give up
everything fr you II you won't
leave me. I don't care what you'ys
done; don't care what anyone
says; l." She tvayed weakly
against him. "oh, John - have .
little pity; have a little pityI'
The Fortune Hunter steed with
his arms stiffly at his sides, and
when at least he answered., hts eyss
looked over her bowed head tnts
You don't know what Il means II
take you. I've no money, not .
shilling. and I've stolen fi,eet from
Mr.. Harding. It's got to be repsit
10 IL takes me to the .end Of my
life" His voice berke, but b,
struggled on again: MY dear, VOL
don't know what u means. Tn no
body, a vsndersr, a vsgsbohd. ltl
sweet of YOU wonderful and
adore yeu for II, but-I'm net worth
IL. And besides you'd never forge
all that's past.
whatever / told you, you'd b,
thinking that I've lied to yov-
many times before. 1t would al
ways he there - between tn
pasti God knows ia give my righ
hand [ wipe il out, but cant
You know that-we both know tt
She drew back a step frem hin
IF you loved me, all this voul
not matter" she said. s.
It's because ! love you I kBo'
IL can ever be- he answered
IF / am willing to take th
risk" she faltered.
He shook his head: his hss yer
trembling too much TO speak.
She wrung her hands IF it
only the money, John. dsut IL
IL stand between us. have N
own, and it's yours-oh. 30 gladly
Anne. for Gods sake"
"If It's only that you are afrai
for nay sake what people will "a
tell you / den't carsl They ssi
bitter things-cruei things-YeaI
ago when you" She broke OF
the tragedy Of II all striking hoE
TO her afresh, and for q momer
neither Of them spoke. Then th
Fortune Hunter said hoarsely: