The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-07-17

me- X 8 .z-.z5 - s'S@>i "a
Thank you for that, dear. 1t hasn't
made any difference, has it?'
81 can't tell q fib. 1t hasnt-in that
way. But don't think I'm not crate;
full" ~r---.a..12.1. ..-.:s
Hang the gratitude!' said Dick
buskily to the paddle box.
What's the use of worrying? You
know l should ruin your life, and you'd
ruin mine as things are now. You re-
member what you said when you were
so angry that day in the park? One
of US has to be broken. Can't you
wait till that day comes?'
"No, love. | want you unbroken,
all to myself,
Maisie shook her head. My poor
Dick, what can l say?'
Don't say anything. Give me a
kiss only ore kiss, Maisie. I'll swear
I won't take any more. You might as
well. and then l can be sure you're
grateful"
Maisie put her cheek forward, and
Dick took his reward in the darkness.
It was only one kiss, but since there
was no time limit specified it was a
long one. Maisie wrenched herself
free angrily, and Dick stood abashed
and tingling from head to heel.
"Goodby, darling. l didn't mean to
scare you. I'm sorry. Only-keep we'll
and do good work, specially the Mel
ancoiia. I'm going to do one too. Re.
member me to Kami, and be careful
what you drink. Country drinking
water is bad everywhere, but it's
worse in France Write to me if you
want anything, and goodby. Say good
by to the what-you-call-um girl. and
can't have another kiss? No? You're
quite right. Goodbye
A shout told him that it was not
seemly to charge up the mail bag in
cline. He reached the pier as the
steamer began to move off, and be fol-
lowed her with his heart.
"And there's nothing-nothing in the
wide world-to keep us apart except
her obstinacy. These Calais night boats
are much too small. I'll get Torp to
write to the papers about it. She's be-
ginning to pitch already
Maisie stood where Dick had left her
Till she heard a little cough at her ell
bow The red haired girls eyes were
alight with cold flame.
HE kissed your she said. "How
could you let him, when he wasn't any
thing to Won? How dared you take a
kiss from him? Oh, Maisie, let's so to
the cabin. I'm sick-deathly sick!'
I'VE aren't into open water yet. Go
down, dear, and I'll stay here. l don't
like the smell Of the engines. Poor
Dick! He deserved one-only one. But
didn't think he'd brighten me So"
Dick returned to town next day just
In time for lunch, for which he had tel
egraphed. To his disgust, there were
only empty plates in the studio. He
lifted up his voice like the bears in the
fairy tale, and Torpenhow entered,
looking very guilty.
"H'shr' said he. Don't make such a
and I'll show you why"
Dick paused amazed at the threshold,
for on Torpenhow's sofa lay a girl
asleep and breathing heavily. The lit
tie cheap sailor hat, the blue and white
dress, filter for June than for Febru-
airy, dabbled with mud at the skirts;
the jacket trimmed with imitation as
trakahn and ripped at the shoulder
seams, and ne-and-eleven penny um-
brella, and, above all, the disgraeeful
condition of the kid topped boots, de
clared all things.
"Oh, / say, old man, this is too bad!
You mustn't bring this sort up here.
They steal things from the rooms"
at looks bad, admit, but was COM
ing in after lunch, and she staggered
into the hall. l thought she was drunk
at first, but it was collapse. / couldn't
leave her as she was, so l brought her
up here and gave her your lunch. She
was fainting from want of food. She
went fast asleep the minute she had
fnished.''
81 know something Of that complaint.
She's been living on sausages, l sup
pose. Torp, you should have handed her
over to a policeman for presuming to
faint in a respectable house. Poor little
wretch! Look at that face! There isn't
an ounce of immortality in it, only fol
ly-slack, fatuous, feeble futile folly
It's typical head. D'you notice how
the skull begins to show through the
flesh padding on the face and cheek
bone?"
"What cold blooded barbarian it is