The Washington times., 1922-03-12

It. But che could not do Il. She
Va merely ssissd by . sort oe'smo-
tional rsvolt sctuatsd b. no rsa-
sons. 90 her lips aid not return
the kiss; indeed. after . moment
she pushed Britford away. Quite
careless Of hsg rsd eyes. Of her
cheeks made sticky with powder
and tears, she looked 81 him.
II love you." said Britford. sHavs
got to say It againf"
She did not ct once reply. She
looked with pleasure upon that in.
telligent. thin face. the calm eyes
in which even now there was NO
ardor. Don't. Stephen" she said.
"Dear Stephen. you're my best
friend, but let me Co."
why should let you Co." re-
piled Britford calmly. when what
Iwant to DO ID to hold you for the
rest of your lief"
v He looked at her. waiting for .
clear answer to his clear question.
Before she spoke he had wanted to
overwhelm her with ardent caresses.
but the intellectual question inter
ssted him more.
II can't" said Mrs. Caldecot, Il.
noring1 this. "You know ! can't. II
could have 1t would have been
long ago."
"Oh. WELL" said Britford as she
freed herself completely and they
stood face to face, 'that's got moth
ing to do with 1t. I've always want.
cd you. always shah. and I want
you now"
7 can't, stephen. Please don't
hurt me. rye had enough the last
two months"
4 know. That's why I'm asking
You again"
Il know you know" said Mrs. Cal.
deceit. ''It doesn't matter"
81 don't understand" said Brit.
ford, twisting his watch chain. She
knew this gesture. It meant that
he was considering the situation
iudicislly. I'VE can get married
all right, II only you'll do II. I can
make arrangements to have Calde
cot found, and there need not be
much publicity over your divorce.
We can do the thing quietly.
should say we could be married
about this time next year"
IL can't"
"Why?"
ooh, you know quite well. Geof-
frey won't give in like that"
"Then you'll marry met" cried
Britford, SEEKING his advantage and
for q moment warming.
mo. You don't see what mean.
II you did find Godfrey he'd night.
and-well, you know"
'T don't care" said Stephen. Let
Godfrey charge you with anything
he likes. You are you"
Dear Stephen, why are you, q
lawyer, trying to blind yourself. as
we'll as me. to the fact that
shouldn't get a divorce? There.
don't, dear. Don't you think
know? Don't you think know that
IL I promise myself to you and
don't get my divorce we shall natur
ally-and | can't do that"
He did not at once reply. He
liked to ind Claire intelligent, but
It annoyed him that she should be
intelligent enough to discover his
train Of thought. So he generalized.
"Oh, these things don't matter as
much as you think"
you mean that you'll take the
risk of scandal. and all that? You
would, OF course, for you do love
me; l know that, and it's sweet to
think 1t, even though ! suppose I've
spoiled your life. taken you away
from some woman who might have
made you happy"
mo woman could have performed
that service"
Perhaps not I'm sorry. Stephen.
I wish somebody could have. But
/ can't. ] really can't"
why not?"
Because I'm so weak and so un-
happy and so lonely now that II l
were to give way what do you think
would happen? After while, q
year, a month. I don't know. when
I felt stronger and safer, I'd find
out that I'd made a mistake--that
you we're my dearest. my truest
friend, but that couldn't love You
like that, that 1t would be unworthy
OF both of us. And couldn't stay
with you then"
1T seems to me-" said Britford,
holding his chin. "that here Is q
risk for me alone to face"