The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1900-10-12

dered ideas, cropping, as he did, in a
queer labyrinth of uncertainties like
man struggling to face some peculiar
situation that his mind refuses to
grasp.
Il trust you will pardon my intru-
slon," Allen said, standing by a win
dow and looking out into the night,
but they told me you had been seri-
ously hurt, and-and-it almost broke
my heart"
Halbert sat up on the edge of the di-
van and, drawing his dressing gown
around him closely, remained there
looking at Allen like one surprised in
half toilet and somewhat nervous be-
cause of It, The kiss of the youth
burned still in the flesh of his hand,
and it travelled along the channels of
feeling and warmed his heart.
Something was cropping in his mind
for recognition. He still stared at Al.
len and took in, with careful, scruti-
nizing gaze, the supple lines of his
tall svelte figure, the curves of his
lOliS IltCh, Tue SlCllNlCI hdLlflH anu lett
"Allen," Halbert said, and he got up
and walked close to the youth and
stood near him, his eyes still searching
the boyish face, "Allen, l want to ask
you question. In Gods name, don't
be offended if am wrong. But don't
think | am wrong. 1t never occurred
to me before, but 1 am blind fool,
and it unnerves me. Look at me, Al
len, and answer this: Are you wom-
amp
Allen WINGED and turned farther
away and leaned against a table as if
to steady himself The young face
was scanned with pain. There was
long silence as IIalbert waited for the
other to speak. "You are n woman"
he repeated.
Eyes, | am a woman" The words
came at last firmly, almost deliantly,
like thunder in Halbert's ears, stun
ming him.
"My God" was all that came from
between the parted, eager lips of the
other but this costume-why this?
l don't understand"
because everybody has Il prejudice
against pettlcoats in the professions"
the girl answered, land I was bound |
would not let that Interfere with my
progress. Why should | be bound
down, tied like n slave. because of Il
mere selfish, unreasonable preiudlce?"
The color burned in her checks bril-
liantly, and Halbert stepped toward
her with Il sudden, quick movement,
his arms outstretched, love on his
tongue in his eyes, in his gestures.
The girl stepped away from him as he
would have touched her arm.
"Mr. Halbert," she said, with dig
nifty, 81 am your secretary and in your
rooms, and you have discovered that
l am woman. Please respect my I'M
happy position, for l want you to be-
lieye that am neither a designing adj
ventures nor simpering dolt. There
is another class that you seem to be
unacquainted with-that you do not
seem to take into consideration" She
looked at him steadily, her eyes burn
ing with determination.
Halbert's head sank under the siege
of her look. Her speech hurt him; it
crushed him. Yes, he loved this girl;
he understood it now. He had been a
blind, self absorbed fool
Girl, don't crush me under your
heel" He had not thought that there
could be lack of respect where love
dwelt
"While am your secretary you must
not speak of love. 1t is an unfair adj
vantage"
"Then discharge you this moment"
cried Halbert, aroused. The girl could
scarcely suppress a smile, though she
struggled to be adamant. She turned
and walked quickly toward the door,
"Come back, grille. Don't go and
leave me like this. You've wound your
self all around my heart with million
tendrils. | can't let you go now-I
want you to be my wife. Don't you
love me? You won't go away now
when want you most"
She turned and smiled at him. He
was pleading in abject humility.
Don't you love meT" he cried out to
her-he, Halbert, the cynic-conquered!
"Well yes" she called back, 81 think
| do" She was laughing, but her kiss
was there on his hand still. He knew
"Then you will go to Abyssinia after
all, won't you, dear?"
Her laughter still greeted him from a
distance, and he flung himself back on
the divan and gave himself up to love
dreams such as never before thawed
the chilly exterior of the man who had
fed from petticoats and hid from them
in smoking rooms for the last % years.
[ Halbert was overcome, in love like a
schoolboy, his heart futtering, buoy
ant, ecstatic. And the kiss was there
on his hand He carried it to his lips
and drank he honey of the spot where
her own lips had been.-Chicago Trib-
une.
A Historic Church.