Part 23 (1/2)
”Because it would be betraying his secret--eh?” I remarked with bitterness. ”And, yet, in the same breath you have told me you hate him.
Surely, this att.i.tude of yours is an unusual one--is it not? You cannot hate him and strive to s.h.i.+eld him at the same moment!”
She paused for a second before replying. Then she said:
”I admit that my att.i.tude towards your friend is a somewhat strange one, but there are reasons--strong, personal reasons of my own--which prevent me revealing to you the whole of what is a strange and ghastly story.
Surely it will suffice you to know that I did not conceal all knowledge of your friend and call upon him in secret all of my own free will. No, Teddy, I loved you--and I still love you, dear--far too well for that.”
”I trusted you, Phrida, but you deceived me,” I replied, with a poignant bitterness in my heart.
”Under compulsion. Because----” and she paused with a look of terror in her eyes.
”Because what?” I asked slowly, placing my hand tenderly upon her shoulder.
She shrank from contact with me.
”No. I--I can't tell you. It--it's all too terrible, too horrible!” she whispered hoa.r.s.ely, covering her white face with her hands. ”I loved you, but, alas! all my happiness, all the joy of which I have so long dreamed, has slipped away from me because of the one false step--my one foolish action--of which I have so long repented.”
”Tell me, Phrida,” I urged, in deep earnestness, bending down to her.
”Confide in me.”
”No,” she replied, with an air of determination. ”It is my own affair. I have acted foolishly and must bear the consequences.”
”But surely you will not sacrifice our love rather than tell me the truth!” I cried.
Hot tears welled in her eyes, and I felt her frail form tremble beneath my touch.
”Alas! I am compelled,” she faltered.
”Then you refuse to tell me--you refuse to explain why this man whom I believed to be my friend, and to whom I have rendered many services, has held you in his thraldom?” I exclaimed bitterly.
CHAPTER XIV.
REVEALS A FURTHER DECEPTION.
My love paused. She remained silent for a long time. Then, with her head bowed, she faltered:
”Yes. I--I am compelled to refuse.”
”Why compelled?” I demanded.
”I--I cannot tell you,” she whispered hoa.r.s.ely. ”I dare not.”
”Dare not? Is your secret so terrible, then?”
”Yes. It is all a mystery. I do not know the truth myself,” she replied.
”I only know that I--that I love you, and that now, because that woman has spoken, I have lost you and am left to face the world--the police--alone!”
”Have I not told you, dearest, that I will do my best to protect and defend you if you will only reveal the truth to me,” I said.