I
--I can't live with you--but I--"
"Mary, you are the grandest woman in all this world," he cried,
amazement in his eyes. "And to think of it! I am the one to have
married you,--a thing like me!"
She was trembling all over. "Will you do this for me, Tom?"
"Do what?"
"You know what, Tom."
"You mean, give up the one thing I've lived for all these awful
years?"
"Yes."
"I--I can't do it, Mary. It's got to be, sooner or later. That man and
I can't live on the earth at the same time."
"Oh! Won't you give me something to thank you for after all I've--"
"Wait a minute! Let me think!" He began pacing the floor again. She
watched him with bated breath, a half-hope in her heart. He stopped
before her once more. His eyes were bright with a new, strange light.
"I'll tell you what I'll do, Mary,--for you and Christine. I'll put an
end to myself. That's the best way out of it. I can't live if he does.
Wait a minute! It's the simplest, surest way. Don't breathe a word of
this to any one. I'll go down to the river to-night. That will be the
end of it all. I swear to you, I won't hunt up Grand,--on my word of
honor, if you will believe that I have any honor.
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