The Daily Alaska empire., 1930-11-03

spises. At least, then, he could put this month of-of devotion against that one heartbreaking mistake; and especially if he regains his sight he'd forgive me one day"
 You'll tell him today you can't marry him because you're no longer in love with him!" shouted Lester.
 Life wouldn't be endurable," she continued, as though he were be- having quite normally. He'd go on hoping I was coming back. And he would want to meet your wife. And very probably you'd get bored with all the shifts and evasions and tell him everything, after all.
 Shall we go back?" she asked. She made a vast effort as though she pushed an inert body, and rose. We really haven't any more to iisay to each other"
 He shot out a hand and gripped lher.
 NO" he said, you are bluffing me. You'd give anything for Socks not to know. You'll marry me, all right"
 ,, She had controlled her voice and ! her eyes, but her body betrayed her. Under his bruising grasp, her arm began to shake and then her whole body shook. She raised her voice and scream ed Instinctively, Lesters muscles relaxed. She wrenched herself away from him. i I'm not afraid of screaming, lnow,' she panted. I've no-no pa i tient to disturb You shall not touch me, Lester, until I give you leave"
 He was getting sulkily to his feet. Hallie knew, with the flashing knowledge of despair, that she had snatched back the ascendancy.
 q will make bargain with you, she offered. It is a compromise. l will come with you tonight and I will marry you and then you must let me come back here.'
 Say. is that likely?"
 After a week-no, two weeks, I will come back to you"
 All right" he agreed, with his knack of suddenly surprising her, you wouldn't break your word. But what's the good of it?" he demand ed, suspicious once more. Why two weeks? Why one? Why day or an hour?"
 "In one week your brother is to undergo an operation for his eyes. It will be months before they know l for certain whether it has given him back his sight, but quite soon they will see whether certain symp- toms have vanished or not. I must be with him during that time"
 Bluff" muttered Lester.
 But she knew she had struck her bargain. There was so much of the woman in Lester's mentality She had in some fashion marvellous Ito herself contrived to force his reasoning into line with hers.
 They went back to Grannocks room.
 T am here Saxely"
 And that's Lester with you" said Grannock. Where's Lytton?' Gone for a walk dear. Does he think you've made progress?'
 "He thinks you've performed a miracle"
 I In due course it was explained to Grannock that Hallie must return Ito New York for a short time to iattend to an urgent business mat ter.
 i You will come back repeated Grannock.
 Come and feel my luggage she directed him. Just swing it on one 'tfinger-your little finger will do very well-and tell me if what am taking with me is meant for two nights in New York or for ever and evermore?"
 Rose" he whispered, you're go- ing to watch over me after they operate; and for that reason I be- lieve the operation will succeed. .
 T believe it too, Saxely.'
 Rose will you marry me when you come back from New York;" She started away from him. She had been utterly unprepared. "Saxely, why do you suddenly ask me that?p
 I'm afraid I've put it badly" he said But what I wanted to sug- gest was that we shouldn't postpone our marriage through all those months of suspense" "Yes-yes, know" She hoped desperately for an interruption but inone came. How cowardly she was!
 Rose, I've a sickening sense that live offended you" I She could think of absolutely nothing to say.
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