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 "Robert! Robert! What does all this mean?" Her breathless soul hung trembling on his answer.

"It means that I am going to give you back your liberty."

"And you?" she gasped.

"I will do the best I can with my life. Please God, you shall never be ashamed to remember that you once fancied that you could have cared for me."

And then he could trust himself no further; the trembling fingers, the soft perfume he knew so well in the air, and the surging realization that the end was at hand, made him weak with longing.

Cherokee was at first shocked and stunned at what he was saying? For a moment the womanly conclusion that he no longer cared for her seemed the only impression, but she put it from her as being unworthy of them both.

Her manner was dignified, yet tender, as she began:

"Robert, I suppose you have not spoken without consideration, and if you think I would be a burden to you, it is best to go on without me." She ended with a deep-drawn breath.

"That sound was not a sob," she said bravely, "I only lost my breath and caught it hard again."

"Yes, Cherokee, I am going without you, going out of your life. Good bye."