Her heart would plead with him to disregard his better self, and come to her.

Her very craving for the open assurance of his love would tempt him, perhaps beyond his strength.

And, yet, she knew as truly that, if he should yield; if he should cast aside the barrier of his honor; if he should deny his best self, and answer her call, it would be disastrous beyond measure to them both.
To save the fineness of their love, Betty Jo must go.

If it should be that they never met again, still she must go.
But there were other currents moving in the river that night.

In the steady onward flow of the whole, Betty Jo's life-currents seemed to be setting away from the man she loved.