Speaker 1: Chapter fifteen of Wider Love by Ali Chiva Thare. This
Speaker 1: LibriVox recording is in the public domain. One summer day,
Speaker 1: the week that decided Quimby's fate so unexpectedly and brought
Speaker 1: him so much woe to Sin, brought good tidings. Her
Speaker 1: success at the concert had been so decided that she
Speaker 1: was the recipient of many offers for the coming season,
Speaker 1: and was enabled to accept those that promised most advantageously.
Speaker 1: No one was more honestly glad than was Natty in
Speaker 1: her congratulations. Natty had fought and overcome that selfish pain
Speaker 1: and bitter wonder of hers why Sin should have everything
Speaker 1: and she nothing. Since the approach of summer, a much
Speaker 1: talked of project among them had been a little picnic
Speaker 1: party in the woods, and as Clem now proposed to
Speaker 1: get it up in honor of Sin's success, the plan
Speaker 1: was immediately carried out. Missus Simonson, with a feeble protest
Speaker 1: because miss Killing was not invited, accompanied them. The them,
Speaker 1: of course, consisted of Sin, Natti, Clem, Joe, and the
Speaker 1: newly betrothed ones. Nature was kind to these seekers of
Speaker 1: her solitudes and gave them a perfect day. One of
Speaker 1: those that occur in our uncertain climate, less often than
Speaker 1: might be wished, but that penetrate everywhere with their sunshine
Speaker 1: when they do come, even into hearts where sunshine seldom glances.
Speaker 1: So for the knots our friends forgot all their little troubles,
Speaker 1: even quimby brightening up and ceasing to think of his engagement.
Speaker 1: As they stood underneath the green trees by the banks
Speaker 1: of the small river. Sunshine everywhere and the music of
Speaker 1: birds in the air. Is it not glorious? Cried Sin
Speaker 1: like a child in her exuberance. Why not camp out
Speaker 1: here and stay all summer ecstatically suggested Clem as he
Speaker 1: fundled his fishing tackle. But it might not always be
Speaker 1: like this, said practical Missus Simonson. When the sunshines, we
Speaker 1: forgave my ever storm, said Joe, and looking admiringly at
Speaker 1: Sinn as he spoke. Is there an artist of philosophers
Speaker 1: well as the west we know he is, asked Syn
Speaker 1: laughing A very little one five feet six, replied Joe. Well,
Speaker 1: we will have no shadows to day, said Syn. No
Speaker 1: shadows to day, echoed Joe. Then, turning to Missus Simmonson, asked,
Speaker 1: I hope you do not still regret miss cling. I
Speaker 1: suppose she would spoil it all that good lady committed
Speaker 1: herself enough to say. Well, really, I must say, remarked Celeste,
Speaker 1: who now gave herself many airs and evidently looked upon
Speaker 1: sin and natty as commonplace creatures not engaged. I must say,
Speaker 1: now that you are speaking of her, that she does
Speaker 1: cling in the way that is not pleasant. Sometimes she
Speaker 1: actually annoys pa. I thought she entertained to have regard
Speaker 1: for your father, said mischievous sin. That is exactly it,
Speaker 1: replied Celeste to I, a regard. Truly, she behaves very
Speaker 1: ridiculously while she positively waylays par so indelicate in a woman,
Speaker 1: you know, with sublime unconsciousness of ever having indulged in
Speaker 1: the pastime of waylaying herself such an old creature too.
Speaker 1: She's always come in and wanting to mend his old
Speaker 1: clothes and stockings. Poor par actually has to lock himself
Speaker 1: in his rooms. Sometimes the vision of poor par thus
Speaker 1: pursued was too much for the gravity of the company,
Speaker 1: and that was a general laugh. It is true, asserted Celeste.
Speaker 1: How isn't it Ralphie appealing to her betrothed with appropriate
Speaker 1: bashfulness everybody stared at this. No one ever before really
Speaker 1: knew that Quimby possessed a front door to his name,
Speaker 1: and he, as surprised as any one at the cognomen
Speaker 1: love had discovered, fell back on a roaring log and
Speaker 1: clutched his legs to that extent that they must have
Speaker 1: been black and blue for a week. Afterwards, Clems say
Speaker 1: of the discomfited Ralphie the necessity of replying by interposing
Speaker 1: with come, come, let us not talk on such incongruous
Speaker 1: subjects this lovely day. Let us rather talk sentiment, And
Speaker 1: he gave a prodigious wink in Joe's direction. I fear
Speaker 1: we are not a very sentimental party, laughed Sin, adding myschievously, except,
Speaker 1: of course, Quimby and Celeste, Oh I have not. I
Speaker 1: assure you I am not in the least you know,
Speaker 1: protested Quimby. Taking a roll on the log never felt
Speaker 1: less so in my life, why, Ralphie, exclaimed Celeste reproachfully,
Speaker 1: and to his distress, went up close to him and
Speaker 1: would have sat down by his side, but for the
Speaker 1: uncontrollable rolling propensity of that log, which made it impossible.
Speaker 1: How is it with you, Joe, queried, Sin, can you
Speaker 1: not for once forget your horrible hobby and be a
Speaker 1: little sentimental in honor of the day. Joe, who was
Speaker 1: throwing sticks into the water to the great disturbance of
Speaker 1: the bugs and pa shown annoyance of a big frog,
Speaker 1: made a somewhat surprising reply. Decidedly seriously, he said, arvivo
Speaker 1: should attempt it, and I get too much in earnest. Oh,
Speaker 1: we will risk that, So please begin, said Sin, but
Speaker 1: staring at him a little as she spoke, do sentimental
Speaker 1: just imagine it? Will you risk it? He asked, still seriously,
Speaker 1: and with so peculiar an expression that she could reply
Speaker 1: only by another astonished stare. But really it does not
Speaker 1: pay to be sentimental, as you all ought to have
Speaker 1: found out long ago, as Joe and I have, Natty
Speaker 1: said jestingly, yet with an undertone of earnestness, then said
Speaker 1: clem dryly, since it is so with us, let us fish,
Speaker 1: and he threw his line into the stream. Sin, Joe,
Speaker 1: and Missus Simmonson followed his example. Quimby declined, joining in
Speaker 1: the sport, and, perhaps likening himself to the fish, balanced
Speaker 1: himself on the log and looked on with a pathetic face. Celeste,
Speaker 1: as in duty bound, remained by his side. Natty, too
Speaker 1: was an observer only, and from the expression of her face,
Speaker 1: was decidedly not amused. I think it is cruel, she exclaimed,
Speaker 1: as Joe took a fish of Syn's hook. O I
Speaker 1: quite agree with you, Quimby replied quickly in answer to
Speaker 1: Nassy's observation. It is cruel. But perhaps a fish were
Speaker 1: made for people to catch, suggested the Pacific missus Simpson,
Speaker 1: who had not yet been able to get a bite. Yes,
Speaker 1: acquiesced Clem, pulling up a skinny little fish. They are
Speaker 1: no worse of than we poor mortals. After all, we
Speaker 1: must each fulfill our destiny with a man or fish. Yes,
Speaker 1: it is all fate, exclaimed Quimby, vehemently. We cannot help ourselves.
Speaker 1: You believe in fate, then, nat At think I do,
Speaker 1: said Sin with a glance, half humorous, half pitying at
Speaker 1: its victim on the log. What incentive will we have
Speaker 1: any effort if we were sure everything was marked out
Speaker 1: for us in advance. That is a question requiring too
Speaker 1: much effort for us to discuss on a warm day,
Speaker 1: said Natty. Certain circumstances, Master bring about certain as odds
Speaker 1: he will acknowledge. Clem gravely remarked, But it is said
Speaker 1: that every soul is born as a twin somewhere, and
Speaker 1: if so, that must be fate, said Missus Simonson. Miss
Speaker 1: Kling's theory, I believe, laughed Natty. If it is so,
Speaker 1: the right ones don't often come together, said Quimby gloomily.
Speaker 1: We are an exception. Then to the general rule, simpered Celeste.
Speaker 1: Guimby groaned and then murmured something about the toothache. Poor fellow,
Speaker 1: said Sin in a low voice to Natty. After all,
Speaker 1: there is something in fate, Natty sighed, Perhaps so, she said. Well,
Speaker 1: we will not get solemn over fate, said Joe cheerily. Then,
Speaker 1: in a lower voice, as he glanced at Sinn, he added, Yet,
Speaker 1: and do not frighten away what few fish there are
Speaker 1: here with your theories, commanded Clem. Although this mandate was obeyed,
Speaker 1: and for a time silence reigned, it was not long
Speaker 1: before they were all singing a gay song, started by
Speaker 1: Clem himself, even Quimby joining in the chorus with a
Speaker 1: feeble tenor. But they were tired of fishing by that
Speaker 1: time and began to feel as if a little refreshment
Speaker 1: would not be out of place, and would indeed enhance
Speaker 1: the loveliness of nature. So a fire was made and
Speaker 1: lunch baskets unpacked. It will take a good many of
Speaker 1: those fish for a mouthful, declared Clem, who was cook.
Speaker 1: You may have my share. The canting creatures I have
Speaker 1: seen squirm, said Natty, Ah, you fastidious young woman. What
Speaker 1: shall I ever do do if you are cast away
Speaker 1: on a desert island with me, exclaimed Clem in mock despair,
Speaker 1: save to p telegraph wire, and then she would need
Speaker 1: nothing more, insinuated Sin, and get snubbed for my pains,
Speaker 1: must Clem sotto votche. But Natty caught the words, and
Speaker 1: an expression of distress passed over her face. This reminds
Speaker 1: me of their feast, Sinn, declared, as they sealed themselves
Speaker 1: wherever convenient, with a dish of whatever was handy. Only
Speaker 1: more so, added Clem. What feast, asked Celeste curiously, when
Speaker 1: we had once, Sin replied evasively, glad there was something
Speaker 1: Celeste did not know about. In fact, in the matter
Speaker 1: of curiosity, Celeste was an embryo. Miss Kling. I'm sorry
Speaker 1: we have no Charlotte Russ to day, Quimby, remarked Clem
Speaker 1: with an expression of transparent innocence. Quimby could only reply
Speaker 1: with a groan. The recollections awakened were too much. What
Speaker 1: is the matter now, Ralphrey asked the loving Celeste Again.
Speaker 1: Quimby muttered something about that tooth. Oh, said Celeste tenderly,
Speaker 1: you really must have it out Ralphrey. The possibility being
Speaker 1: obliged to part with a sound tooth in self defense
Speaker 1: restored him for the time being. But he was not
Speaker 1: the only one to whom the retrospect brought a momentary pain.
Speaker 1: Natty sighed as she looked back to the day that
Speaker 1: had brought clem, but not restored, as she then supposed,
Speaker 1: but taken away her sea. The salubrious air and the
Speaker 1: invigorating odor of the forest adds immeasurably to the natural
Speaker 1: capacity the appetite, commented Joe bravely, as he passed his
Speaker 1: plate for the seventh fish. Ah, sighed Celeste, who prided
Speaker 1: herself on her delicacy. I never could eat more than
Speaker 1: would satisfy a mouse, and since my engagement simpering, I
Speaker 1: cannot swallow enough to scarce keep me alive, Quimby looked
Speaker 1: up eagerly. I beg pardon, but if the if the
Speaker 1: engagement weighs upon you, I am willing to release you,
Speaker 1: you know, he exclaimed hopefully. You jealous creature, replied Celeste archly.
Speaker 1: You know, Ralphy, that no consideration could make me release you.
Speaker 1: Quimby knew it only too well, and sighed as he
Speaker 1: picked a chicken bone. A great objection to dining in
Speaker 1: the woods is that one is apt to find his
Speaker 1: food unexpectedly seasoned, said Clem, as he captured a six
Speaker 1: legged bug of an adventurous spirit that had sought to
Speaker 1: investigate the contents of his plate. Isn't it strange that
Speaker 1: bugs don't seem after bad in our food ear as
Speaker 1: they would at home, said missus Simonson. We can get
Speaker 1: us to anything if we only think so, said Syn,
Speaker 1: bringing her cheery philosophy to the front. Yes, assented Quimby mournfully.
Speaker 1: I am used to it, you know, Syn laughed, and
Speaker 1: then proposed the health of the betrothed pair, which was
Speaker 1: drunk in larger beer, and to which Quimby bolstered up by.
Speaker 1: Celeste attempted to respet fond but collapsed in the middle
Speaker 1: of the third sentence, and with the words then go
Speaker 1: and I'm mused to it, you know, sat down, wiped
Speaker 1: his forehead on his napkin, and looked intensely miserable. After
Speaker 1: that they toasted sin, and then dots and dashes, and
Speaker 1: last Joe, with mock solemnity, proposed fight. And just then
Speaker 1: Quimby met with a fresh mishap and came near ending
Speaker 1: his sufferers and a watery grave. Only the water did
Speaker 1: not happen to be quite deep enough. Arising from the
Speaker 1: sharp pointed roc that had served him for a pivot
Speaker 1: in which to eat his dinner, he stumbled, fell, and
Speaker 1: rolled over and over down the bank and into the
Speaker 1: river with a tremendous splash. Everyone jumped up in consternation.
Speaker 1: Oh clem Joe, shrieked Celeste, wringing her hands and rushing
Speaker 1: down to the water's edge. So leave him, save my darling, Ralphie. Ralphie, however,
Speaker 1: was equal to saving his own life. This time, the
Speaker 1: water was only up to his waist, and he had
Speaker 1: already picked himself up and was wading ashore. U ugh
Speaker 1: a a all right, he said, looking up at his
Speaker 1: anxious friends with a reassuring smile, I help youth, do it?
Speaker 1: You know? As Clem assisted him up the bank, the
Speaker 1: thought came into Syn's head, why would it not be
Speaker 1: a good idea to push Nat accidentally into the river
Speaker 1: so Clem might rescue her and thus bring about that
Speaker 1: much to be desired crisis. But remembering that water could
Speaker 1: run the colors of her dress and father, how dreadfully
Speaker 1: unbecoming it was to be wet, a fact fully demonstrated
Speaker 1: by the present appearance of Quimby, Sin rejected their idea
Speaker 1: was not exactly feasible. They left Quimby drying on a
Speaker 1: sunny bank with Celeste's guardian Angel Love and the remains
Speaker 1: of the repast asked to cheer her, and the consciousness
Speaker 1: that his clothes were shrinking on him as they dried
Speaker 1: to divert him, and wandered off through the woods and
Speaker 1: over the hills, gathering on the way so many flowers
Speaker 1: and green things that Sin declared they looked like burnham
Speaker 1: wood coming to dunsinane. At first they were all together,
Speaker 1: then straggled the part, Missus Simmonson being the first dereliction,
Speaker 1: as she was not quite equal to climbing as fast
Speaker 1: as the young people. Thus it came about that Natty
Speaker 1: found herself alone with Clem, and, suddenly, stopping with some embarrassment,
Speaker 1: but steadily, he said, there is something I wish to
Speaker 1: say to you. You have spoken several times of late
Speaker 1: about my stubbing you. I want to say I have
Speaker 1: not intentionally done so, that I have the same, the
Speaker 1: same friendship for you as always, and that I wish
Speaker 1: you every happiness. What may have appeared to you as
Speaker 1: strange or cold in my conduct of late is due
Speaker 1: to secrets of my own. Clem looked at her scrutinizingly
Speaker 1: as she spoke, and the flowers he had gathered fell
Speaker 1: unheeded from his hands. It has never been my wish
Speaker 1: that any coldness should come between us. You know that, Natty,
Speaker 1: he replied earnestly. From our first acquaintance, the old acquaintance
Speaker 1: over the wire, you have held the same place in
Speaker 1: my heart, the place next to sin, was Natty's involuntary
Speaker 1: bitter thought. But she instantly stifled the feeling and answered,
Speaker 1: thank you, Clem, and I hope we may always be
Speaker 1: the same friends. At this Clem took an impetuous step
Speaker 1: towards her and would have said, you can tell what
Speaker 1: had not. At the same moment Missus Simonson, very much
Speaker 1: out of breath, come up with them. Natty was not sorry.
Speaker 1: She had wished to say to him what she had
Speaker 1: that she might not think her changed manner of late
Speaker 1: had been caused by any feeling of dislike, and might understand.
Speaker 1: She wished him success with Sin, but she had no
Speaker 1: desire to prolong the interview, and gladly walked on by
Speaker 1: the side of the puffing Missus Simonson. Clem, however, looked
Speaker 1: displeased and followed with a thoughtful face, so thoughtful that
Speaker 1: Missus Simonson noticed and wondered at his preoccupation. Meanwhile, Sin
Speaker 1: with Joe was far in advance and had turned into
Speaker 1: a by path that led toward a slight rising. Sauntering on,
Speaker 1: Sin talking merrily Joe unusually quietly, until suddenly stopping, she exclaimed,
Speaker 1: dear me, we have lost sight of every one. It
Speaker 1: would not better return Nah I do not want to,
Speaker 1: answered Joe bluntly, do not as we say, and we
Speaker 1: must not lose them. Perhaps they will stroll this way.
Speaker 1: Shall we sit down? And without waiting for a response,
Speaker 1: Syn seated herself on a big rock by the side
Speaker 1: of the pathway. Although Joe was not romantic, he had
Speaker 1: an artist I and could not but note the beauty
Speaker 1: of the scene before him, a scene he did not
Speaker 1: need to reproduce on canvas to remember ever after, the
Speaker 1: mountains on the background, the narrow path sloping down from
Speaker 1: the near hill to where on the gray and moss
Speaker 1: covered rock, Sin sat, her dark eyes mellow with the
Speaker 1: summer sunshine, and the cheery ribbons of her hat giving
Speaker 1: the requisite touch of color to make the picture perfect.
Speaker 1: For a moment, he stood in silent admiration. Then, taking
Speaker 1: off his hat and smoothing down his shaven locks, he said,
Speaker 1: to tell the truth, Sin, I'd do hope they will
Speaker 1: not stroll this way though around altogether too much. I
Speaker 1: can never have a quiet talk with you, I declare
Speaker 1: I leave an addition to your being unsentimental and all
Speaker 1: that you are becoming a confirmed grumbler, exclaimed Sinn, as
Speaker 1: she caught one of the bowels of the tree overhead
Speaker 1: and turned a merrily protesting face towards him. Joe looked
Speaker 1: at her, and a queer expression came over his face.
Speaker 1: Am I, he said, slowly, Well, would you like to
Speaker 1: see me sentimental. Would you like to see me make
Speaker 1: a fool of myself? Nothing would give me greater pleasure,
Speaker 1: cried Sin, then exclaimed Joe, planting himself directly in front
Speaker 1: of her. Here goes now, I'm going to astonish you
Speaker 1: very much, Sin, very well, I am all in patience.
Speaker 1: Go on, but it is no joke, he replied, in
Speaker 1: protest to her laughing face. If I'm to make a
Speaker 1: fool of myself, I am going to do it in
Speaker 1: dead earnest. This is the way, of course, responded Sin,
Speaker 1: but beginning to look a little surprised, for Joe seemed
Speaker 1: very much excited, and his manner indicated anything but her jest.
Speaker 1: Extraordinary creature there, Joe. His next proceeding was even more strange.
Speaker 1: That was to ask the apparently irrelevant question to remember
Speaker 1: what we all saying a short time ago about fate? Certainly,
Speaker 1: but I am going to favor me with a dissertation
Speaker 1: on fate instead of making a fool of yourself. No,
Speaker 1: was the solemn reply. Have a little patience, Sin. The
Speaker 1: fact is you are my fate. There is no mistake
Speaker 1: about it. There must be either cruel or kind, and
Speaker 1: there's no alternative. Since's surprise increased visibly. I am sure
Speaker 1: I did not stand you are tall, acquere you are
Speaker 1: to day, Joe, of course I am queer. When a
Speaker 1: man throws his theories and obbies to the winds and
Speaker 1: confesses himself conquered, he is apt to be queer, is
Speaker 1: he not? Can you not understand that I, Joe Norton,
Speaker 1: who have always scoffed at sentiment and proudly declare myself
Speaker 1: incapable of being a victim of love, am ready yes,
Speaker 1: and longing to make as big a fool of myself
Speaker 1: as the veriest, spooniest youth in existence, and all for
Speaker 1: love of you. Sin to this exceedingly novel declaration of love,
Speaker 1: Sin responded by releasing the bow she held and staring
Speaker 1: at him with distended eyes and a perfectly blank face,
Speaker 1: at once in her life speechless. I told you I
Speaker 1: was going to astonish you, said Joe quaintly, in answer
Speaker 1: to her prolonged stare. And I do not wonder that
Speaker 1: you cannot believe I really love you. I do not
Speaker 1: myself for a long time, and I was not after
Speaker 1: I knew it. But it is a fact, no joke,
Speaker 1: no mistake, but a sober, serious fact. I love you,
Speaker 1: love you, love you. Joe's voice grew very fervent as
Speaker 1: he uttered these last words, and was in such striking
Speaker 1: contrast to his ordinary manner that Sin could but see
Speaker 1: that this was indeed no joke. Who you love? In
Speaker 1: love me? She gasped, Yes, I could not help it.
Speaker 1: I've only known it within a few days. But I
Speaker 1: think I have loved you ever since we first met.
Speaker 1: Only those confounded theories of mine blind in me. Well,
Speaker 1: but what are you going to do about it? Questioned Sin,
Speaker 1: Enable yet to recover from her bewilderment, Jo looked at
Speaker 1: her wistfully. I know I am homely, Sin, and I
Speaker 1: am poor. I've nothing to offer you but an honest,
Speaker 1: loving and true heart. I suppose a man who is
Speaker 1: in love is naturally unreasonable. I never was in love before,
Speaker 1: you know. By an extravagant hope, will whisper to me
Speaker 1: that even this little might not be unappreciated by you.
Speaker 1: And as he spoke, Joe's face was so transfigured that
Speaker 1: he could no longer be called plain. Sin gazed at
Speaker 1: him in wonder, and, recovering partly from her first surprise,
Speaker 1: an unusual seriousness came over her own handsome face as
Speaker 1: she answered earnestly, it is not unappreciated. Oh no, do
Speaker 1: nothing to offer me but honor, loving and true heart.
Speaker 1: You say, why that is everything? Then will you accept it?
Speaker 1: May I try and win your love? He asked, eagerly,
Speaker 1: advancing close to her. I will work very hard to
Speaker 1: make myself worthy of it, and to win a name
Speaker 1: you need not be ashamed to bear. I lay myself
Speaker 1: my life at your feet, Sin, And this is unsentimental, Joe,
Speaker 1: Sin exclaimed involuntarily. This is unsentimental, Joe, he answered, in
Speaker 1: all humility, do with him what you will. He is
Speaker 1: all yours Intero. Sin's expressive eyes came some deeply stirred emotion.
Speaker 1: I am so sorry, she said, sadly, so very very sorry.
Speaker 1: What shall I say? What shall I do? I like
Speaker 1: you so much as a friend, but what you ask,
Speaker 1: Joe could never be. The sun sank behind the distant hills,
Speaker 1: and the shadow such as had fallen over the woods
Speaker 1: behind them, settled on Joe's face. The idea is new
Speaker 1: to you, at least tink it over. Do not leave
Speaker 1: me without a little hope, he entreated. Joe. I wish
Speaker 1: as I do wish that I could love you as
Speaker 1: you deserve to be loved, said Sin earnestly. But it
Speaker 1: cannot be. It never could be. Do not deceive yourself
Speaker 1: with false hopes. Friends always, Joe, but lovers never, Ah,
Speaker 1: exclaimed Joe bitterly, unable to restrain his jealousy. It is
Speaker 1: Clem who stands between us. Clym, who stands between us,
Speaker 1: echoed Sin, astounded for the second time. Day there now,
Speaker 1: I've lowered myself in your estimation. I am but a
Speaker 1: blundering fool. Sin. You see, I am selfish in my love,
Speaker 1: and I have not yet become sentimental enough to be
Speaker 1: willing to see another fellow win. What is all the
Speaker 1: world to me? Sin's face grew red, as was the
Speaker 1: sky when the sun had gone down. Do you mean
Speaker 1: to insinuate that I am in love with Clem, she
Speaker 1: asked angrily. I would not insinuate it for all the
Speaker 1: world if you are not, was Joe's eager reply. I
Speaker 1: am not experienced in love matters, but I am quite
Speaker 1: sure he loves you, and he is very handsome, he
Speaker 1: added ruefully. What a dreadful combination of circumstances cried Sinn, distractedly.
Speaker 1: Woopsh it is impossible, impossible, No, indeed, why it was
Speaker 1: by being so jous for him that I first awoke
Speaker 1: to the fact that I was loving you myself. Besides,
Speaker 1: every one has noticed his fondness for you. They you
Speaker 1: have vehemently and smiting the rock where she sat with
Speaker 1: her hand as she spoke. This is truly awful. Then
Speaker 1: you do not care for him, questioned Joe, joyfully care
Speaker 1: for him, repeated Syn irritably. Of course I care for him.
Speaker 1: Is it not my pet scheme that he should marry Natty?
Speaker 1: Certainly it is, and he has been from the first
Speaker 1: and now if he has gone and fallen in love
Speaker 1: with me a nice predicament, we will be in. But
Speaker 1: you must be mistaken. I cannot believe him capable of
Speaker 1: such a thing. The only reason I have to fear
Speaker 1: it is that I would not have credited it of
Speaker 1: you yesterday. But you say I do love him. You
Speaker 1: believe I do, do you not, sin, asked Joe, too
Speaker 1: eager to press his own suit to give much thought
Speaker 1: to Natty and Clem. Will you not try and love
Speaker 1: me as you do not love Clem? Am? I so
Speaker 1: only as to be repulsive to you. Only nonsense, replied Sin,
Speaker 1: momentarily putting aside at her newest anxiety for the previous one. I,
Speaker 1: come to think of it, I'd rather marry you than
Speaker 1: any man I know. Would you? Would you really? Seizing
Speaker 1: her hand hopefully, and why were you not see an
Speaker 1: an out her hand to remain in his as he
Speaker 1: said slowly and impressively, I cannot, Mary, that is entirely
Speaker 1: out of the question for me, of my life, love
Speaker 1: can form no part. I thought you believed in love,
Speaker 1: said Joe, looking perplexed but clinging to her hand as
Speaker 1: a sort of anchor. I do. I believe it is
Speaker 1: the best happiness of life, but it cannot be for me.
Speaker 1: Why I will tell you I owe this much in
Speaker 1: return for what you have given me. What I prize,
Speaker 1: even though I am compelled to refuse it. What stands
Speaker 1: between us is the memory of a love gone forever?
Speaker 1: What exclaimed Joe, astounded in his turn, You mean to
Speaker 1: say that you that you you the gayest of the
Speaker 1: gay that you Joe stopped, unable to proceed. You hardly
Speaker 1: expected to find me in the role of the victim
Speaker 1: of a broken heart. Did you questioned Sin with a
Speaker 1: half sad, half humorous. I admit I do not exactly
Speaker 1: answered to the average description. And my heart is not broken.
Speaker 1: There is only a blank in it, something dead that
Speaker 1: can never live again. Once I loved a man with
Speaker 1: all my heart, Joe sighed with all the illusion of youth,
Speaker 1: and he loved me. The difference between his love and
Speaker 1: mine was that mine was for ever and his was
Speaker 1: for a day. Impossible, interrupted Joe, My man who once
Speaker 1: loved you could ever change. He happened to be one
Speaker 1: of the kind who could. I never really knew. The cause.
Speaker 1: Might have been another woman. You know, there always is
Speaker 1: another woman or another man, added Joe gloomily. Yes, yes,
Speaker 1: cented Sin, and continued. He was one of the kind,
Speaker 1: I think now who are incapable of appreciating a woman's
Speaker 1: love and consequently unworthy of it. But unworthy. I did
Speaker 1: not know this and wasted mine on him. So he
Speaker 1: and love went out of my life forever. But with
Speaker 1: a proud raising of her head. I would not be
Speaker 1: weak enough to allow all my life to be ruined.
Speaker 1: Because one part of it was wrecked. With somewhat gone,
Speaker 1: there still remains something, and of that I made the most.
Speaker 1: This is why my heart is everything to me, and
Speaker 1: why I cannot marry you. But it seems to be
Speaker 1: unreasonable that because you loved one man who was unworthy,
Speaker 1: you should refuse the love of another who would try
Speaker 1: very hard to make you forget that first sad experience. Argue, Joe,
Speaker 1: give me what you have left sin, If it be
Speaker 1: but dead ashes, Oh, thank God for the gift. Perhaps,
Speaker 1: at some future day, in response to my devotion, even
Speaker 1: from those ashes shall arise another love, so strong, so intense,
Speaker 1: that in comparison, the old will be but a some
Speaker 1: half forgotten trouble of childhood whose remembrance cannot awaken even
Speaker 1: a passing pain. The fervor of an honest affection made
Speaker 1: Joe truly eloquent, and his true blue eyes met the
Speaker 1: dark ones of sin, ring with earnestness and love. And
Speaker 1: for a moment she looked at him and hesitated. Then
Speaker 1: she arose, saying resolutely, no, Jo, no, do not tempt me.
Speaker 1: The experiment would be too dangerous. To give your warmed
Speaker 1: over affection in return for your whole heart would only
Speaker 1: be misery for us, both more misery than I am
Speaker 1: bringing to you now. I respect and esteem you. As
Speaker 1: I said before, we will be friends, tom Mad's always
Speaker 1: no more. As she spoke, she extended her hand to
Speaker 1: him in farewell to all his hopes, and so understanding
Speaker 1: he clasped it. A sadness on his face she had
Speaker 1: never seen there before. As you will, Sin, he replied brokenly,
Speaker 1: for I shall love you for ever. As he spoke,
Speaker 1: from below, came the cry, Sin, Joe, where are yer?
Speaker 1: We are going coming? Sin's clear voice answered back. One moment,
Speaker 1: Joe said, detaining, he may I, May I kiss you once, Sin,
Speaker 1: once of the last time. There were tears and sins eyes.
Speaker 1: She bent her handsome head. Their lips met. Then, without
Speaker 1: a word, they went on together to join those who
Speaker 1: awaited them. And it was thus fate to Creed, for
Speaker 1: these two love brings the most intense sorrows the keenest
Speaker 1: joys of life. But there must always be some lives
Speaker 1: into which comes only the sadness and none of the
Speaker 1: bliss of loving. End of Chapter fifteen.