The Old Love and the New.
I drew back crushed and humiliated.
Her tone of withering scorn showed that she no longer looked upon me with favour.
“For years I have loved you, Muriel,” I said in as calm a tone as I could, “but I have feared to speak until to-day. Now that I have declared the truth cannot you trust me?”
“No,” she replied, shaking her head determinedly. “It is useless. I cannot love you.”
“Then you have tried and failed?” I gasped in dismay, looking into her white, agitated face.
“Yes, I have tried,” she answered after a pause.
“And do you doubt me?” I demanded quickly.
“Without mutual confidence there can be no love between us,” she responded in a dismal tone.
“But why can you not trust me? Surely I have given you no great offence?” I said, bewildered at her strange attitude.