"--of being a fugitive from the law who left the circus to avoid being arrested. It is absurd, ridiculous! Only such a man as he is would dream of such a thing. If ten thousand persons testified under oath that such was the case I'd not believe them." "You'd not believe them?" he echoed, and he hugged to himself his inherent right to her faith in him as an honest man, for dishonest he had never been. "No, I'd not believe them. It seems to me now that I believe only in you. In all humanity I know of no one I trust so much--my father, my brothers, even my sweet dead--" She hesitated, then finished, fervently: "Yes, even my mother. She would forgive me if she were here and understood." Again the infinite yearning to take her to his breast swept over him. He put his arm about her; he was drawing her to him, when, with a groan of tortured resolution, he released her. His face was white in the dusk as he stood grimly silent. "I can't understand you, Charlie," she whispered, tenderly, and yet in a groping, bewildered tone. "Somehow I know--I'm _sure_ that you--love me. "Oh, I _do_!" he said, quickly, "but I have no right to do so. I can't explain. It would do no good, anyway. I am bound by honor not to reveal certain things, even to you." "I see, I see; now I begin to understand _a little_," she said, wistfully. "And I won't press you to tell me, either. It may be that you are bound to others, as I am bound. Though I have the sweet comfort of talking to you about it. I couldn't bear it all but for you, but I shall be braver, less complaining, from now on." She lowered her head; she stood back from him. An overwhelming sense of losing her pressed down on him like a pall. He wondered if in her mute attitude lay any touch of womanly resentment against him for the stand he had taken. He held out his hands to her, but she simply sighed and slowly shook her head. "What is it?" he asked, tremblingly. "It must be as you say," she answered. "I wonder why God brought us together like this. It is strange--strange--strange!" He could not answer. His arms sank to his sides. She turned and left him. CHAPTER XXIV