The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-12-14
1 am going back" he replied patien,

az knew Won would come said she. 81
have been expecting you
oh Harry" she b-eathed. with sud.
cen flash of insight, you are a man borr
to be much misunderstood.
he held himself rigid. but in his veins
was creeping a molten fire. and the fire
was beginning to glow duly in his eye
Her whole being called him. His heart
leaped. his breath came fast his eyes
swan He tried to steady himself, anG
by an effort that left him weak he sue.
cceGed. For a moment it seemed to hin,
that he was going to faint.
And still she stood there before him
saving nothing. leaning slightly towards
Kim, her red lips half parted, her eyes
fixed almost wistfully on his face
Go away" he whispered hoarsely al
last. The voice was not his own. &c
away! Go away
Suddenly she swayed to him.
oh Harry, Harry she whispered
must 1 tell you? Don't you see:'
The flood broke through him. He seized
her hur.,riy. He crushed her 70 lila
un.Jl she gasped: he pressed his lips
AGAINST hers until she all but cried out
with pain Of It; he ran his great brown
hands blind1y through her HAIR until II
came down about them both in q clouo
OF spun light.
..Teu me-, he whispered. TELL ne:
ooh. Oh.' she cried. please! What
is it?''
Il do not believe it, he murmured
savagely.
she drew herself from him with gentle
dignity.
Il am not worthy to say it," she said
soberly but I love you with all my
heart and soul!''
Then for the first and only time in his
life Thorpe fell to weeping. while she,
understanding, stood by and comforted
him.
The few moments of Thorpe's tears
easad the emotional strain under which
perhaps unconsciously. he had been
laboring for nearly a year past The
tenseness of his nerves relaxed. He
sayored deliberately the joy of luxuri-
Gus couch, rich hansings, polished floor.
subdued light. warmed atmosphere. He
watched with soul-deep gratitude the soft
girlish curves of Hilda's body, the polse
of h-r flower heads. the piGuant. mai
vistful. half-chldisl1 set of her red lips,
the clear. star-lihe glimmer Of her dusky
evcs, It was all near to him; his.
kiss me. dear" she said
she leaned her cheeks against her hand.
and her hand against his shoulder.
~ have been reading a story lately
said She. that has interested me very
much. It was about man VINO re-
nounced all he held dear to shield q
friend"
yes" said Thorpe.
Then he renowned all his most valu-
able possessions because a poor common
man needed the sac flee"
Sounds like a medieval story said
-. ,,-;.l, .,ncciouS. hTTnOr.
"Tt ba-pened recently rejoined Hilda.
81 read 1t in the paners."
..Well. he blazed a good trail was
--r7o,-ne's signing comment. sI7r"ha bly, he
had his chance. We don't al Of US get
that. Things go crooked and get tangled
nm so we have to DO the best we can.
dc,,,+ believe I'd he-a done :.
90, VIZ; ~. 6aiic:ous?" she cried.
Afrer a time she said very humhly: i
want to beg your pardon for nisunder-
standing you and causing You 50 much
e,,1fa-inc / was very stupid. and didn't
see vhy you could not Go as I wanted
Won to-
THAT is nothing to forgive. I acted
~ have known about you F" she went
IN ct has all come out in the Tele-
cran, It has been very exciting. Poor
bov. you look tired"
re straiehtened himself suddenly Il
have forgotten--actna'ly forsotten.' he
cried a little bitterly. why. I am a
,auner :: BANKRUPT. T.