Franklin Kane Part 37

She could never ask. She could never know. It would hover and whisper always, the fear that had yet its beauty. It humbled her and it lifted Franklin. He was more than she had believed. She had believed him all hers, to take; but it was he who had given himself to her, and there was an inmost shrine--ah, was there not?--that was not his to give. And pity, deep pity, and sadness immeasurable for a loss not hers alone, was in her as she sobbed: 'Ah, it is only because you are sorry for me. I have killed all the rest. You are not in love with me any longer--poor--poor Franklin--and everything is spoiled.'

But Franklin could show her that he had seen the fear, and yet that life was not spoiled by shrines in each heart from which the other was shut out. It was difficult to know how to say it; difficult to tell her that some truth she saw and yet that there was more truth for them both--plenty of truth, as he would have said, for them both to live on.

And though it took him a little while to find the words, he did find them at last, completely, for her and for himself, saying gently, while he held her, 'No, it isn't, dear. It's not spoiled. It's not the same--for either of us--is it?--but it isn't spoiled. We've taken nothing from each other; some things weren't ours, that's all. And even if you don't much want to marry me, you must please have me, now; because I want to marry you. I want to live for you so much that by degrees, I feel sure of it, you'll want to live for me, too. We must live for each other; we've got each other. Isn't that enough, Althea?'

'Is it--_is_ it enough?' she sobbed.

'I guess it is,' said Franklin.

His voice was sane and sweet, even if it was sad. It seemed the voice of life. Althea closed her eyes and let it fold her round. Only with Franklin could she find consolation in her defeat, or strength to live without the happiness that had failed her. Only Franklin could console her for having to take Franklin. Was that really all that it came to?

No, she felt it growing, as they sat in silence, her sobs quieting, her head on his shoulder; it came to more. But she saw nothing clearly after the hateful, soulless seeing. The only clear thing was that it was good to be with Franklin.

THE END.

THE NELSON LIBRARY OF COPYRIGHT FICTION

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Ma.n.a.lIVE. G. K. Chesterton.

Mr. Chesterton is avowedly the maker of fantasies, half allegorical in motive; but like all true allegories, they touch ordinary life at many points. This story will be found as daring and subtle in conception, and as brilliant in presentation as his best work. (_May 19._)

WHITE WINGS. William Black.

William Black's famous novel may be described as a cla.s.sic of yachting.

No sunnier tale of the seas has ever been written. (_June 2._)

SCARLET RUNNER. C. N. and A. M. Williamson.

In this book Mr. and Mrs. Williamson describe the various doings of a young gentleman whose sole worldly possession is a large touring car.

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_Already Published._

TRENT'S LAST CASE. E. C. Bentley.

This has been by far the most successful detective novel of recent years. Mr. Lewis Hind in _The Daily Chronicle_ described it as the best detective story of the century.

THE OPEN QUESTION. Elizabeth Robins.

This was the book with which Miss Robins first won her great reputation as a novelist. The scene is laid in America, and the story is described by the author as a "study of two temperaments."

THE MONEY MARKET. E. F. Benson.

A brilliant study of London society and of the strife between love and the power of purse.

THE LUCK OF THE VAILS. E. F. Benson.

In this story of modern country-house life Mr. Benson mingles mystery, intrigue, and comedy with the skill of which he alone has the secret.

THE POTTER'S THUMB. Flora Annie Steel.

"Sometimes the potter's thumb slips in the moulding, so in the firing the pot cracks." Mrs. Steel's brilliant study of Anglo-Indian life is based upon this text. It is one of the most dramatic and moving of her Indian novels.

ON THE FACE OF THE WATERS. Flora Annie Steel.

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THE HOUSE OF THE WOLF. Stanley J. Weyman.

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MIGHTIER THAN THE SWORD. A. Courlander.

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A WALKING GENTLEMAN. James Prior.

In this delightful fantasia a young peer, on the eve of his marriage, walks out of his park into the world of common folk, and in the adventures which follow finds that zest for life which he had hitherto found wanting.

BROTHERS. H. A. Vach.e.l.l.

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THE EXPLOITS OF BRIGADIER GERARD. A. Conan Doyle.

The doings of this soldier of Napoleon have long been among Sir A. Conan Doyle's most popular achievements in the art of fiction. As Mr.