The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1904-04-01
!: The Gentleman
!: From Indiana
By BOOTH HARRINGTON
Cos,rSAf. 1899. l, Dostis5sy q MsCisre Go.
oOsshsAt. 1892. ls Mcclure. fslss Co
CONTINUED
By BOOTH HARRINGTON
css,rSst. 1899. ~ DOslissp q sselr, Go.


She stood quite motionless for full
| minute or longer; then. without a word.
she moved toward the house. He went
TO her. with hands extended TO find her.
and his fingers touched her sleeve.
Together and silently they found tie
garden path and followed its dim
| length In the orchard he touched her
sleeve again and led the way.
As they came out behind the house
she detained him. Stopping short. she
shook his hand from her arm. She
spoke in a breath. as II il were all one
| word.
"Will you tell me why you go? 1t Is
not late. Why do you wish 10 leave
me. when shall not see you again"
1.-The Lord be good to mer' he broke
out. all his long pent passion of dreams
rushing to his lips as the barrier fell.
Don't you see IL is because I can't
bear to let you go? / hoped to get
away without saying ii. l want to be
alone. l want to be with myself and
| try to realize things. / didn't want to
| make n babbling idiot of myself. but
| am. 1t Is because don't want another
second of your sweetness to leave an
added pain when you've gone. 1t is
because / don't want to hear your voice
/ again, to have il haunt me in the lone
illness you will leave. But it's useless.
useless. / shall hear it always, just as
i / shall always see your face, just as
| / have heard yRir voice and seen your
/ face these seven years. ever since
| first saw you, a child. at Winter Har-
bor. / forgot for awhile. thought t
was a girl had made up out OF my
own heart. but IT was you all the time.
The impression / thought nothing OF
then; Just the merest touch on my
heart, light as 1t was. grew and grew
deeper I'LL 1t was there forever. You've
known me twenty-fo hours. and l
understand what you think OF me for
speaking TO you like this IL l had
known you for years and had waited
and hsd the right to speak and keep
your respect. what have to offer your
couldn't even take care of you IL you
went mad as / and listened. I've no
excuse for this raving- Yes. have"
| He saw her in another second Of
lightning, a sudden. bright one. Her
back was turned TO him. and she had
taken few startled steps from him.
"Ah." he cried. you are glad enough
now to see me go! l knew IT. | want
ed to spare myself that. l tried not TO
be hysterical fool in your eyes" He
turned aside. and his head fell on his
breast. God help mer' he said. what
will this place be to me nowr'
The breeze had risen. Ii gathered
force. Ii was a chill wind. and there
rose a wailIng ON the prairie. Drops Of
rain began TO fall.
You will not think a question i'm.
| piled In this" he said. more composed
ly. but with an unhappy laugh at him'
self. Il believe you will not think me
capable of asking you If you care
mo" she answered. IL do not love
you"
"Ah, was il a question, after allf L
you read me better than do. perhaps
But. il I asked. knew the answer"
She made as IL TO speak again, but
, II words refused her.
I'll After a moment. "Goodby." he said
very steadily. Il thank you for the
charity that has given me this littls
time-with you. 1t will always be
precious to me. I shall always be youl
. servant" His steadiness did not carry
= him to the end of his sentence. Good
by
She started toward him and stopped
He did not see her. She answered moth
ing. but stretched out her hand to hin
and then let it fall quickly.
..Goodby.'' he said again. Il shall q
out the orchard gate. Please tell then
| good night for me. Won't you speak e
:, me? Goodby~
He stood waiting. while the risinl
wind blew their garments about them
She leaned against the wall OF tn
house Wont You say goodby and tel
me you can forget my
She dhi not speak.
"Nor' he cried wildly. "Since yo'
don't forget IT, have spoiled wha
might have been a pleasant memor.
e for you. and know it. You are al
ready troubled. and have added. an
| you won't forget it. nor shall mo
r shall |. Don't say goOdbyi can say
4 for both of us. God bless you, an
| goodby. goodby. goodby.'
He crushed his hat down over hi
eyes and ran toward the orchard gat'
For n mon OF s-htning flashed repeat
edly. She saw him 90 out the gat
as and disappear into sudden darkness
Is He ran through the field and came on
he on the road. Heaven and earth wer
r revealed again for a dazzling whit
es second. From horizon to horizon role
clouds contorted like an illimitabl
field OF inverted haystacks. and b'
Meath them enormous volumes OF bh
y ish vapor were tumbling In the ives
e advancing eastward with sinister swift
ks ness. She ran TO little knoll at III
tn corner of the house and saw him 81
~ his face to the storm. She cried alou
y TO him with all her strength and won
have followed, but the wind took Il
words out of her mouth and drove h,
back. covering. to the shelter OF u
house.
Out on the road the lashing du
came stinying him like a thousand ne
ties. II sm0thered him and beat hi