The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-18

| be a kind OF aDS0lutiOn.'
Il don't think / love you like that. But
you may kiss me. Larry. If you like. You
used to kiss me when / was a little girl,
ana now I'm only little girl grown up"
You must kiss me as we'll"
Yes she said
So we kissed. and for moment had my
arm about her. Then she was on her feet,
crimson as some Of the dead leaves under
T Il didn't mean that kind of kissr' she
cried.
I'm sorry" said 1. "You should have
told me the kind you meant My dear, if
you knew my heart you would forgive me-"
she stood looking on the ground kicking
little hole in it with the toe of her shoe.
she was not really angry-I could see that;
but l could not be. sure what her trembling
lips meant or why her eyelashes were heavy
with tears: did not realize then what the
first lovers kiss symbolizes to such girl
as Patricia, girl compounded of fire and
pride and utter nobleness of blood
After time she gave me her right hand
again and said quietly. Il forgive you"
stopped and touched her fingers with my
llps-not lovers kiss. but one of simple
reverence.
AS we walked back to the house q was
her fathers guesD we hardly spoke at all.
But that evening, as the old man nodded in
his chair after our usual game of chess we
dr rev, together again.
take me TO Cashel arn't you?"
You must see Cashel.' she said
of course, and If to-morrows fine
Well drive there she said. land have
luncheon in the ruins
beduuIul- SAID i.
But it may be too cold."f
There are rugs" ] said.
1T may rain"
There are umbrellas and mackintoshes
Let IL be Cashel Tomorrow, whatever hap
pens. Patricia"
She promised: and when / went to bed I
my new ciays. thinking blissfully of Cashel
and the long drive there and back II was
so full of smoke that l could hardly see
| across it.
The morning was fine, and at Il o'clock
the car was ready and we set out. The
country through which we drove was beau
only now and then did realize how fair a
land 1t was. Holy Cross Abbey, by the
waterside, haunt of ancient peace if ever
there was one, stuck in my memory; but /
ei. Patricia had been very silent, but occa-
sionally she gave me her eyes in a way
that made my heart thump: could not be
quite sure just what she meant.
As we walked up the steep approach to
the gray ruins that crown the abrupt Rock
of Cashel she became her old self again,
and we raced each other to the top 1t was
dead heat, although Patricia protested
that she won; but when / asked her what
again with that new look of hers. We wan
dered about the ruins and the graveyard
until 1t was time for luncheon. which we
spread upon the grass-tufted floor Of what
mad once been room, now roo1ess and
with a sheer drop on one side to a kind of
courtyard below. We made the place which
we seemed to have entirely to ourselves
echo with laughter, and the old cathedral
looked down upon us not unkindy like a
ripe oid man smiling at youth.
Patricia had had the forethought to put
g bottle of champagne in the basket, but,
for the reason. as she said. that she did not
care for wine, only one glass But I soon
0vercame her scruples and handed her a
| bumper
Patricia said. you must drink to my
| health
Il will. Larry, with all my heart.
DO you mean that?"
n no caiH ot,d Ivon IL xx,skL
pretty inclination toward me. Then she
filled again and handed the glass to me.
Your health, Patricia" said |. with all
my love, and may you see what a jewel
am and secure me while you have the
chance"' And drank to the last drop and
turned the glass upside down.
You're jewel, indeed" said she, land
VIII III make some girl happy"
| It's you or no one Patricia. I've found
| you, and I'll look no further
oh, Larry, VIII. wouldn't some one else
| do for you as well?"
Because you are you, and there isn't any
one else in the world.
| That's good reason" she said.
It's SO good that / wonder you can hesi-
Have some cold chicken. Larry"
Hang the chicken / said, but I took it,
all the same, and we got on to less danger
! GUS ground, and became children just as we
| had been in the old days
After luncheon we wandered about again.
| ST ending the afternoon in that hand-n-
hand familiarity which is SO sweet. and yet,
] to one in my underlined position, so bitterly
| disquieting. But | was blindly happy, tell
| ing her absurd stories that / might hear
! her laugh, and sad ones that i might see
her eyes fill with pity; and she, on her part,
told me a hundred little things about her
self that seemed to make me free of her
| inner life.
At last, when it was nearly dusk. we
! stumbled upon King KormacS Chapel L
have no idea who King Cormac was, but 1
| know that his chapel was extraordinarily
| dark and damp and gloomy and that we
| seemed suddenly shut away from all the
| light and sweetness of the world. However,
we proceeded cautiously, and after time
reached an arched embrasure with pro
| sprang. Here we sat down in silence that
made Patricia shiver.
king Cormac's Chapel" I said, 'is like
1T makes me cold" Patricia answered.
There was a high window opposite,
sky; there was Just light enough for me to
distinguish Patricia's face dimly.
well" I said. this has, been great
myself for six hours. But what's that when
/ want to have you all my life?"
She drew closer to me and touched my
Larry, dear, what does it feel like here
land she laid her hand upon her heart
when you love so much as that?"
AT that moment heard a sound like the
1T feels. l said, 'as if another life were
any longer. My spirits all in the dark, just
as my body is in this black chapel. Let's
perhaps it will teach me to forget
took her arm and led her to the door,
she saying nothing, but l heard her breath
ing. / put out my hand and pushed against
the grated door; it was locked. l was not
in the least afraid for myself; indeed, i
think l inwardly blessed King Cormac but
l did not know how Patricia might take it.
wait moment, Larry she said as /
fumbled with the lock.
I'VE must watt l said. I'VE are pris-
cners; the things locked
Locked" she cried. Then she laughed
and took my hand.
You can take care of me-" she said; lin
minute you may shout, but first l must
tell you something"
A pang struck through my heart.
''Well, child / said.
IT think l love you little, Larry"
IT believe that, but Titles no good.
Don't play with me, Patricia"
She drew herself up and took my face be-
tween her hands ard kissed me. All the
blood in my body seemed to run 10 sleet
that kiss.
will that do? Is that love enougn?"
Pat 1 cried. do you mean it? Is it
trre?"
Would lie to you. Larry?"
God bless King Cormac," ] said, and
took her in my arms.
Il knew it yesterday, Larry"
Then God bless yesterday as WELL"
Are you happy now. Larry?'
no ic no Y0lao FOR