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,oxwsow. . THE Waif of Silence

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,oxwsow. THE Waif of Silence I. A STOST OF CABDEET, I spowif WrittM fer tile "Evening Express" If SlDDI WABWICK, AUTHOR OF The Angel of Trouble, "mg Past Is Dead," Cat". Eyos A Myatery," "MMAMI fit Londen," Ac., be. tcene of the Story To-Dav-Cardift. CHAPTER XXXI (Continued.) THE "WOMAN'S ANSWER. B", I won't let you go like this!" Mere- dith cried. after the first startled moment. The girl's unexpected cry bad broken in upon the swift rtteh of joy and triumph that had swept over him, as for an instant she had seemed to yield herself to his arms, like the first instinctive response of her own heart to the words he had uttered. -Why should it be impossible? Is it so ve" strange I should care for you? Dear, I won't relinquish my hopes so lightly!" he cried. A sudden note of masterfulness had come into his voice. The words that had broken town ker had not been the first instinctive prompting: of her feelings, but only a swift afterthought: he. was sure of 'tha,t, "Is it that you could not care for IDe ?" Am face wae white in the moonlight; he Raw her lips quiver. POD't ask my reasons," Eire said, in a low, strained voice that struck him ¡ with its note of pa.in. I am sorry to hurt you..1I l do fl-urt you; but its impossible— that's all 1 aan tell you. I have liked your trienddhi.p-we have been such good friends— MMI I have cause to be very grateful to you, tmty— U You mustn't talk of gratitude," he said brusquely, he eyes bent on her face. "And I have a Tight to ask you for your reason, if only beoauso of our friendship." She looked at him steadily. But I can't give you my reasons; I can't giys -you any explanation, except that I shall never marry." And you meaai that I am not even to hope?" he asked. Yes," she whispered almost inaudibly. She was not looking at him; her eyes were wella of unshed tears. "You don t knoy? me, Eve, if you think I am going tOL-give up my heart's desire with' owt a fight! he said quietly. I won't take your auswer unless you tell me one that 6 there's no chance of your mriMC for me except ae. your friend." She did not speak. Then he caught her land. suddenly, imprisoning it in his two han^s, £ nd drew, her nearer to bim.. and there was a. mounting passion in his voice, as he cried HEu, I've cared for you almost since I have kDMn1 y. I think I began to care for you tbot night you left me at Radyr Station, when I didn't even know your name, of if we should ever meet again. I've set my heart on winning you, and I'm .not going to j renoroce hope so easily! There's nothing in the world I want as I want yoik-aiad, dear, a-rc you so sure that in a corner of your heeirt you haven't some shred of responsive fpeeing? TeJl me boncetly that you haven't, aad I'U go away and not trouble von again- V-J. T J »x «m*. i K oeuevQ^you can ten me that f'* cried this impetuous wooer. Bat the tremulous lips remained silent; t-f- girl's eyes were turned away. What was It that he saw in her eyes behind their look 01 tristful })a.in? "Eve. it has been a hope of mine to go back •one day to that house at I*kn*daff that was my pome as a. boy; and my first thought tdMm the offer of it came to me was of you," he want on. "Mrs. Jardine said it was too bit for a bachelor—but it wouldn't be too big fer you and me! And I've been planning goch dreama, with- you the heart and centre at every dream; don't spoil them—ah, bttt you wou't be so cru.e! Eve, why should it be. mupoemiWe ? I won't believe it is impos- sible, I won't take your answer until' yon have told me that your reason is ,hat rbid: could never care for me more than as a friend." Still she answered evasively. Mr. Meredith, you met me fit under odd -eircuraatauce&guspieious cirt-umstaneee, per- haVg-goir.6 to that's man's house; and sup- posing that I-I had said Ye. you would bote had a right to ask why—you would have had a right to ask many things that I could not tell you," she said in a low voice. » Then is that why you tell me it is im- possible for you to marry me?" he ^teawageii. She gave a little shiver. let me go _now; dotrt oslr me any- lilliw further—" "No; ETC. you shan't go till Yo-u"re given .me a better reason!" he cried, with a touch of masteyfulze,i. That's no reason at all- if you care for me." She drew her h-a-nid away; for a moment aftje covered her face with her two hands, as though- ahe was en tihe v«r;e of breaking down; but with a resolute efldrt she gripped herself to control. Then -L-h-e said, almost 40anQjr as it seiamed: "loo force me. to &ay more than. I bad wished to soy Mr. Meredith, no man would wiah to marry a woman knowing metadng of her; and I. sinoe you force me to speelk pleinly-I could tell you nothing of vanyeelf, of my people, beyond what you now know: that I was a friend of Lculy Clyndes, and on her recommendation I came to Mrs. Zar-dixmL So you see. even if-if I cared for .a man and he wished it. I could not marry him, becau ah," &he broke out wit-hi .vadden vehemeoee, "it would be kinder of 7qU to let me go, not to Pa- me by forcing me totell you this!" she-cried. I He looked closely at her. The strangewss t>f the words puzzled him. What did she mee.n?- What hints lay behind them? That; 8be could +,ell him -nothing of her- wif-, of her people, beyond this that he already know. that she had to Mrs. J ardiue on Lady Clyndee' recommendation. But one thing at least, her words had told Mm—they were an involun- tary, tacit admission confirming his convic- tion that it was not because Eve Kennedy did not care for him that she had refused him. But this barrier—if there be a barrier- is not in yourself; it is something outside your own feelings," he persisted. "I don't profess to understand, but And I cannot explain. Oh. if only you had not spoken, to disturb our friendship!" What did she mean by the strangeness of "her words? Only. Jim Meredith could not- look into her face and not be sure, absolutely sure beyond a.U-àou.bt. thal--whatever her reasons might be for this perplexing mystery and secrecy that her words seemed sud- denly to wrap about h-er-there was noth- ing in it to touch her womanliness and honoar. He oottM not believe anything but good of her, he would 'have stakodhis life on his faith in Eve. But I know yoo," he answered; "wher, ever you tell me or you do not tell me-I know you!" For an instant he stood regarding her steadfastly; the moonlight slanting down throogfe tl» tongrfed branches fell itke magic silver network on her hair. Faintly from far away caaie,.the deadened hum of traffic, that SOBol-oely disturbed the stillness that seemed to abut them in as in a world apart. A reckless madness pulsed through his wins; how oould he doubt her, in spite Cf-.bear own words that ha.d been the ejtallenge of her honesty to bis faith in her? But if the man who loved you knew tbfte, this that you bOX" jost spoken." he said in Totoe. tbat-wtt not quiW. oodar Ms eoar y. trol, shaken with a rush, of feeling, "and still wanted you—knew you too well, dear, to believe anything but good of you?" ()h. I wilf, I must say this," she cried with sudden passion. "If I have resolved to say nothing about myself before you knew me, yet at least I have nothing to look back on of which I am ashamed! I can say that honestly!" And there was a flash of pride in her eyes. "I should only have something to be ashamed of if-if the man I cared for tempted me beyond my strength, and I was weak enough to give him my pro- mise when, because I could tell him nothing of myself, I should not have the right! That is why I say it is impossible!" she said i wearily. But almost before the last words were spoken she was in his arms again, held tight; and there was a light in his face, and a trinmphant note in his voice. "If that is all the barrier between us, sweetheart, it is no barrier at all!" he cried, holding her close to him—so close and tight as though he would never let her go from his arms again, and he bent down and kissed the wan, wistful face. Did you thinlt my love was so light a thing that I shouldn't have faith in you?" But her eyes were troubled, though she lay unresisting now in his arms. "You think so now, because you care for me, Jim," she said slowly—"but bit by bit this mystery about me, this secrecy, would have its effect, would inevitabJy bring a, gradual estrangement between us. Oh, I know, I know! Jim, if only I could have come to you without this shadow between us. I think I should have been the gladdest woman in the world!" A little sob broke her words. Her troubled eyes looked up at his face lingeringly, doubt- fully. "For I do care-oh, you don't know how deeply I oare for you, Jim! Only-it can't be dear, it can't be! It wouldn't be fair to you; and I want to act honestly—honestly to you. of all the world. Don't tempt me beyond my strength!" She was fighting w-th her--elf-with that almost overwhelming temptation that had assailed her to trample down underfoot those scruples of her honesty, to open her arms wide to this great happiness. She wanted love so much—his I-ove-to help her to forget that misery on which she looked back, of which she could not tell him. But Jim Meredith laughed. "You woman of queer fancies! Do you think I'll let you go now?" he cried—"after telling me you love me! Whatever it is you shrink from telling me, I'll take the risk. There's nothing I care for in the world as J care for you. Just now you said you had nothing to look back on to be ashamed of. I didn't need that assurance from you, sweetheart; but I quote your words against yourself!" She dre.v a sudden, deep breath. Above everything, she had wanted the man she loved never to know; but now the resolute impulse had come to her, caring for him ae she did, to be honest with him, to tell what she had shrunk so from telling, even though when he h-ea.-rd- "But-oh! yiour words force me to tell yoU-" she cried. But he put his hand over her mouth play- fully. "I want to hear nothing that it will pain you to speak of!" he cried, quickly. "It's the future, our future, dear, that matters!" "If oatly I thought you would never repent !'v she whispered. "And I did fight against my own longings that I might not do you any wrong," she addfcd, as if to justify this final surrender. Only the last sentence she whispered beneath her breath, so low that he oould not hear. TO BE CONTINUED TO-MORROW.

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