The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1899-11-03
: daughter-Zetta-is she at


face. Ha. La. I've done the same thing
when | was her age. You'll oyertake
her, guess. if you've a mind to walk
down the road piece, or maybe you'll
sit here and wait; I'd be glad OF your
company"
Thank you, III go and find her, I
think. | won't stop" answered David,
while his heart gave bound. somehow
ne could not reveal his identity now.
Grandma Belts ehuckled to herself rs
he went ont Thinks I've lost lay ears
as we'll as my eye, don't heE and taat
he could take in the Lord Almighty.
That's David all over she said.
1t was by this time past o'clock; the
wind had fallen and the moon now I'd
ing triumphantly through the rare
space i'm the sky. threw d"nS" Inc
of shadow along the edge of the road.
AS David approached the first turn hc
heard voices ahesd and il stinctiTely
drew back among ,he pine trunks. In
a moment two figures appeared, walk
ing side by side, hut little apart He
scanped them at first with Il feeling OF
friendly curiosity, imagining. as lovers
will, that they, too, We're necessarily
lovers: but oven as Qe loo ed he started.
and his blood scem6f to choke him sud
denly, for in the woman he recognized
Zetta. dressed IN black. pacing slowly
along with her eyes on the ground aud
her hands locked in front of her, while
her HmpaniOn leaned eagerly toward
her, as If trying to read her face
e. never wanted to force your con
dence' were the first words he caught.
Il only say what you must feel your
self that we can't go on like this
The tone startled and angered David,
though he was too completely taken
off guard to have any clear idea why.
As the speakers calOe nearer, with the
moon full upon hila, he proved 10 be
a man in his early prime. his compact
features. well-madt frame and firm
step all indicating q certain power and
effectiveness: the sort of man, in brief.
who gets what he wants. The caves
drcppar. crouching On one knee, listened
like fox.
We. l don't knew what you mean
by We" he heard Zetta say CURLY,
vet with a maddening suggestion of
coquetry.
We'll. for INSTANCE, | can't endure
ii to hear those goo6-for- nothing scOun-
drels discuss your affairs"
81 wonder that you don't leave town
you've often said you were going to-"
I'm only waiting to have the honor
of attending youl wedding first"
You ought to have been a doctor.
Joe" commented Zetta abruptly.
Indeed. Why
you have such morbid pertinacity
in exploring wounds"
The Storekeeper's face betrayed his
modification at this thrust. and Zetta
with one of her quick side CLAN. es, sur.
prised the look.
''Oh, forgive me- she cried impetu-
ously. Il didn't mean to say that.
know very we'll that you have always
been generous toward me-"
"Tell me, then, are you satisfied TO
live here in Bridgewater, and to have
everything go on just as il iS?' return
ed the young man quickly, as if he
felt his advantage.
"Satisfied"' echoed Xetta. with unex-
pccted intensity, but they had passed
by, and now her voice was CROWN.
small in the distance. 1t rose and fell;
hut though David strained his ears he
could not distinguish the words, and
presently only their two noseless fig
urcS could be seen, like ghosts in thu
moonlight
The first thought to clear itself in
David's tumultuous brain was that not
ia was changed; she looked thinner
careworn and i'll at ease. and tli~
vaguely tragic aspect of hers made this
mans heart yearn nightly toward her
She was not to blame, he supposed. for
being attractive and for having adj
mirers. He remembered, too, that the
old man was dead that must have
been a hard blow.
Put when the pair from whom lie
had never shifted his eyes reached thu
cottage and turned, again he began Ia
feel only a consuming curiosity To-
know what they We're saying. He did
not stir, except to settle himself back
in the thicket of laurel bushes. Nearer
and nearer they came. The first words
that reached him through the silver
stiffness We're in Hnttas full-volGmed
voice:
You would be NAL TO marry WON
an older than you are, penniless-and
in love with anothe. man."
David drew a sfSrp breath and SGT
his teeth.
A couple of mo .ths older-and in
loIe with what doeNlt exist"
Zetta was silent Ind the rival en-
ti1ued;
In spite of all flat, you're sure t.
mIrry sooner or !; ter; nothing else
would satisfy you, and your feelings
ale too strong to be starved and KEEP
under forever. | O. see well enough
that you Chafe aga INST it already. nj.
though you're too III lch of woman f.
ccnfeSS the truth Apart from any
cGmpuncticns on my account it isn't in
n.ture that you Should throw away
lite and love aud Opportunity and hap.
pinesS for the mere, dea of man who
hes been absent fer five years. aHG
who, from what htRr, was never halt
worthy of YOU"
''From what You .ar! What do You
hear" flashed ont Zetta defiantly.
stopping short and raising her head.
They were almost opposite David and
he felt himself tre1nlle.
''1'hat he was an itsIer and drank toe
mIch, aud that yoiF father forbade
him the house.
"Oh. he drank tee much-once-G
glass. That was a a;eat crime. waSu't
1t? I hope You may uevcr do wor.c
But ] stood by him. ! Always believed
IN him. Father was 4 hard strict mar
and said he shoulC never enter hf
doors again until nr had proved Ins
character by doing this and doing thnr
"rd David was toe proud not 10 taFe
him at his word But I was Satisf =
beforehand because l knew him SO
we'll; no one ever loved him or under
stood him as did. However, needn't