Omaha daily bee., 1922-01-05
BY RUBY AYRES.
tlontlnued From Yesterday. ,

she said wildly II suppose | ought
TO be willing 10 die rather than say
what | must say, but | can't help il.
| love YOU. ] thought. when | knew
that il had all gone--forever; that
you had killed everything ! ever felt
for you; but it's not true-I love you;
Ill give up everything for you, it
you won't leave me. | don't care
what you've done; don't care what
anyone says: l." She swaycd weak
ly against him. "Oh, John-have a
little pity; have little pityP
The Fortune Hunter stood with
his arms stiihy at his sides and
when at last he answered his eyes
looked over her bowed head into the
silent room.
"You don't know what it means
il ] take you. I've no money, not
a shilling, and I've stolen 1000
pounds from Mr.. Harding. It's got
TO be repaid, il il takes me to the end
OF my life" His voice broke. but he
struggled on again: my dear, you
don't know what it means. I'm no.
body, a wanderer, a vagabond. It's
sweet of you--wonderful-and |
adore you for it, but-l'm not worth
il. And besides, you'd never for
get-all that's past.
Whatever | told you, you'd be
that I've lied to you--many
times before. 1t would always be
there-between us-the pastl God
knows I'd give my rigkt hand TO wipe
it out, but l can't. You know that
we both know it."
She drew back a step from him.
"If you loved me, all this would not
matter" she said.
ITS because ] love you l know
it can never be-" he answered.
"If | am willing to take the risk"
she faltered. ....
He shook his head; his lips were
trembling too much to speak.
She wrung her hands. "1f it's only
the money, John, don't let it stand
between us. l have my own, and
it's yours-oh, so gladly@
"Anne, for Gods sake" ...
If it's only that you are afraid
for my sake what people will say.
tell you | don't care! They said
bitter things--cruel th:ngs-years ago
when you--" She broke off, the
tragedy OF il all striking home to her
afresh, and for moment neither OF
them spoke. Then the Fortune
Hunter said hoarsely:
(Which of us do you love, Anne?
Is it me? Was it ever me? I've
longed so many times to ask you. If
| knew, somehow. things-wouldn't
be so hard. I-.oh, | know I've no
right to ask you'll ...
She drew long breath and the
faintest smile trembled on her lips.
"If you could both be here now
you, and-and he," she said slowly,
"and | had to choose. it would be
you-you always. Even-even-"
and her eyes fell as the color rose
slowly to her white cheeks-"even
though married him
The Fortune Hunters arms went
out to her, but fell again hopeless
". What was the good? They had
to part. Every nerve in his body
told him that this thing could never
be. Why prolong it? Why not cut
out his aching heart once and tor
all? He turned blindly to the door.
81 must go-I--"
"John!" There was such world
of passionate reproach in her voice
that he stopped with stifled groan.
and she went on, sobbing now. as if
her heart was broken: :
"And | count nothing--nothing, l
suppose! 1t doesn't matter that
I've offered myself to you, that ],
let my pride go! Oh, if you ever
cared for me at all, you can't be SO
cruel. Lies so short--a few years.
and it won't matter to anyone who
you were, or if we loved each other;
but, now-oh, haven't borne enough
haven't / borne enough?"
The Fortune Hunter turned slow
ly and looked at her; then he came
back to where she stood and put his
arms round her, pressing her head to
his breast.
Don't, don't! 1t breaks my heart!
I'm not worth a tear, not worth
thought Oh, my dear"
She lifted her arms and c!asped
them round his neck.
Promise me you won't go-prom-
ise me! Promise me! Stay just
for tonight, just till the morning. Oh,
I shall die if you leave me like this"
For a moment he made no an
swer; his eyes were dark with pain
and his heart torn with misery. Then
he raised her head and, holding her
face between his hands stopped and
kissed her lips-a long kiss of fare
we'll. If only she had known it, of
passionate despair and undying love.
Il love you'll love you," he said.
Her arms clung about him., her we:
cheeks was pressed to his.
"And you won't go-you won't
leave me"
"Anne, oh, my dear. how can |
answer you? How can | stay? I've
Seen ordered to go-and rightly. !
must leave this. house tonigbt-you
know that. i shall love you all my
life: there'll never be another woman
in the world for me. There'll meyer
be a moment when / am not thinking
OF you-wanting you. But | can't
stay: you know that. l."
will you stay if | ask You to?"
said voice behind him, and the For
tune Hunter turned, with Anne's
arms still about him, and looked into
Mr.. Harding's perturbed face.
There was a tragic silence.
"Will you stay if | ask you to?"
Mr.. Harding said again. ''Oh. it's
not that I've changed my mind about
YOU" he broke out, with great Bit
tcrness. but / love my niece; Id
give everything | own TO see her
happy, and | know now that she'll
break her heart if you 60"
He came forward a step into the
room. Stay; Just for tonight" he
added slowly. Tomorrow-perhaps
things will seem more possible to-
morrow"