Part 27 (1/2)

”None of theo farther in everything than I can You're elusive, but I've felt, for a long ti That's ument and what I really meant to say Surely, you have seen that I wanted you”

Evelyn felt guilty, because she had seen this and had not repulsed hiht essential in her circle and she had never been stirred by passion

”I felt that I couldn't get hold of you,” he went on; ”you were not ready We were friends and that was soe in you, soentleness”

”And do you think I aht be wrong But I began to find holdingtoo hard, and I was afraid so who had the power to rouse you I believe you can be roused”

”I wonder!” she said in a curious tone

”You make people love you,” he broke out ”That's a proof that when the ti But I only ask to be near you and surround you hat you like best There's a rare aloofness in you, but you're flesh and blood When you have learned how I love you, you can't hold out”

Evelyn was silent, hesitating, with a troubled face She liked him; he was such a man as her mother meant her to marry and, until the last feeeks, she had acquiesced in her obvious fate Noever, soh prudence and aed her to yield

As he watched her in keen suspense, Gore suddenly lost his head The next moment his arm was round her and he drew her forward until she was pressed against hiainst his At first she did not struggle, and he thought she was about to yield, until he felt her tremble and her face was suddenly turned away Then she put her hand on his shoulder and firrasp Gore knew that he had blundered Letting his arer, although her eyes were very bright and her color was high

”I'ie, but it's impossible for rimly ”This is ins of strain; ”I am sure I think I wish it had been possible, but it isn't You have convinced me”

He was silent for a moment

”It cuts pretty deep,” he said slowly ”I've been afraid all along that even if you took ot to bear it and let you go”

He rose and stood looking at her irresolutely, and then, with a gesture of acquiescence, abruptly turned away

When he had gone, Evelyn sat still in the gathering dusk She had, at first, submitted to his embrace, because she wished to find in any e hi except repulsion Then in a flash the truth was plain; any closer relationshi+p than that of friend would make her loathe the , but little by little she began to realize that his touch had a strange after-effect It had stirred her to warht herself capable of aithin her; she was conscious of a craving for love and of a curious tenderness Only, Reggie was not the ht to be grateful for that She blushed as she struggled with her rebellious feelings, and then resolutely pulled herself together Herbefore dinner when Evelyn entered her roo

”What is thehad gone wrong ”Why do you come in, in this dramatic way?”

”I didn't mean to be dramatic,” Evelyn answered quietly ”Still, perhaps I was rather highly strung Reggie asked me to marry him, and I told him I could not”

Mrs Cliffe sat up suddenly, and there was an angry sparkle in her eyes

”Then I think you must be mad! What led you to this absurd conclusion?”

”It's hard to explain,” Evelyn answered with a faint sical reasons”

”Then it ht!” Mrs Cliffe saw a ray of hope

”I'ie knows that--he was very considerate

There is no use in your trying to do anything; I must have my oay in this”