The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1901-10-17

a wooden stool for himself What should
! have done" she wondered, If 1 had
been shut out Of the house by myselfg'
Her eyes rested on him timidly; there was
some thought in her which she shrank
from expressing. She only said: Il wish
knew how to be worthy of your kind
ness"
Her voice warned him that she was
struggling with strong emotion. Linley
treated her like a child; he smiled, and
patted her on the shoulder. Nonsense
he said gayly. There is no merit in be-
ing kind to my good little governess.
She took that comforting hand-it was
harmless impulse that she was unable
to resist-she bent over it, and kissed 1t
gratefully. He drew his hand away from
her as if the soft touch Of her lips had
been fire that burned it. "Oh,' she cried,
"have / done wrong?"
mo, my dear-no, no"
There was an embarrassment in his
manner, the inevitable result Of his fear
Of himself il he faltered in the resolute
exercise Of self-restraint, which was per-
fectly ncomprehensble to Sydney Com
pletely misunderstanding him, she
! thought he was reminding her of the dis
lance that separated them in social rank.
A fit of hysterical sobbing burst its way
through her last reserves Of self-controli
she started to her feet and ran out of the
summer house. Alarmed and distressed,
he followed her instantly.
She was leaning against the pedestal OF
a statue in the garden, painting, shudder-
ing, a sight to touch the heart Of a far
less sensitive man than the man who now
approached her. Sydney he said.
.Dear little Sydney?'' She tried to speak
TO him in return. Breath and strength
failed her together; she would have fallen
| if he had not caught her in his arms. Her
head sank family backward on his breast.
He looked at the poor little tortured face,
turned up toward him in the lovely moon
light Again and again he had honorably
restrained himself-he was human; he
was a MANN one mad moment 1t was
done, hotly, passionately done-he kissed
her.
For the first time in her maiden life a
mans lips touched her lips. All that had
been perplexing and strange, all that had
been innocently wonderful to herself III
the feeling that bound Sydney to her first
friend was mystery no more. Love lift
ed its veil, nature revealed its secrets, in
the one supreme moment of that kiss. She
threw her arms round his neck with low
cry of delight-and returned his kiss
Sydney" he whispered, Il love your
She heard him in rapturOus silence. Hel
kiss had answered for her. At this crisis
in their lives they were saved by an acct
dent; a poor little common accident that
happens every day. The spring in th'
bracelet that Sydney wore gave way as
she held him to her; the bright trinket fel
on the grass at their feet. The man never
noticed it. The woman saw her pretty or
nament as it dropped from her arm-saw
and remembered Mrs. Linley's gift.
Cold and pale-with horror of herself
confessed in the action. simple as it was
she drew back from him in dead silence
He was astounded. In tones that trem
bled with agitation, he said to her; AR
you illg'
shameless and wicked, she answered
mot ILL.," She pointed to the bracelet OF
the grass Take it up; am not fit t.
touch it. Look on the inner side"
He remembered the inscription: 'T
Sydney Westerfeld, with Catherine Lin
ley's love- His head sank on his breast
he understood her at last. You despis
me-" he said "and l deserve it,
mo; l despise myself. l have live
among vile people; and l am vile Xix
them"
She moved away few steps with
heavy sigh kitty" she said to herself
Poor little Kitty
He followed her. "Why are you think
ing of the child he asked, AT such
time as this?'
She replied without returning or look
ing round; distrust of herself had inspire
her with terror Of Linley from the tim
when the bracelet had dropped on tn
grass.
Il can make but one .atonement," sh
said I'VE must see each other no NOR,
/ must say good-by to Kitty-I must g
Help me to submit to my hard lott mus
go"
. Il must ask you to submit to a sacrific
of your own feelings" he began. "Whe
d, / kept away from you in the drawing ROOF
last night--when my strange conduC
made you fear that you had offended m
Il was trying to remember what | owe
to my good wife. | have been thinkin
:. of her again. We must spare her dii
covery too terrible to he endured Will
! her attention is claimed by the guests VIII
are now in the house. In a weeks tim
!, they viii leave us. VIII You consent I
u keep up appearances? Will you live wit
us as usual. until we are left by on
;. selves?"
10 1T shall be done, Mr.. Linley. l onl
u ask one favor of you. My worst enem
is my own miserable. wicked heart o.
% don't you understand me? am ashame
to look at you
= Not a word more passed between the
4 until the unbarring of doors was hear
= in the stiffness of the morning, and Il
smoke began to rise from the Htcht
u chimney Then he returned and spoke
her.
y "You can get back into the house.
- said. Go up by the front stairs. and "
y will not meet the servants at this ear
y hour. II they do see YOU, You have yol