Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-01
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
&S PAUL LEICESTER FORD 18
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LEICESTER FORD
COPYRIGHT 1897
81 Dooo MEAD X Cow0N

It, Mr. Gordon"
I wasn't in a mood to enjoy evenNiss cul.
lens gratitude. Without stopping for words.
I dashed into 21s. and; going straight p
| sleep. and before he could ven
understand me / was alternately swearing
| at him and raging at Lord Rallies. Finally
| he got the truth through his head. and II
! was nuts to me. even In my rage. to bee
| how his English drawl disappeared. and
how quick he could be when he really be-
| came excited.
| left him hurrying into his clothes. and
! went to my car. for didn't dare to see the
I exodus of Lord Rallies, through fear that
| l couldn't behave myself. Albert came into
% In few moments to say that the Eng.
| lishmen were going to the hotel as soon as
dressed. the captain having elected to stay
| by his brother.
Il wouldn't have believed It of Rallies. I
| feel jolly cut up. you know" he drawled.
had been so enraged over Lord Rallies
| tnat hadn't stopped to reckon in what
position l stood myself toward Miss Cullen,
| put didn't have to do much thinking to
was possible for me. And the worst of 1t
was that she could not know that right
| through the whole 1 had never quite been
able to think badly Of her. went out on
the platform Of the station and was lucky
enough to find her there alone
Miss Cullen" I said. I've been ungen-
temanly and suspicious, and I'm about a.
ashamed OF myself as a man can be and
come to you to ask your forgiveness for
! L can't forgive myself. much less expect IL
| OF you. But 1 want you to know how I
| feel. and IL there's any reparation, apology
anything. that you'd Hike, I'll"
Madge interrupted my speech there By
holding out her hand.
| You don't suppose she said. that,
| a1ter all you have done for US, I could Be
| angry over what was merely a mistaken
That's what call a trump Of a girl,
worth loving for a lifetime
| wen, we coupled on to No that morn
Ing and started east. this time Mr. CuIlen's
car being the "ender." All on 218 were
Wildly Jubilant. as was natural. but kept
growing bluer and bluer 1 took a fare
well dinner on their car the night we were
due In Albuquerque. and afterward Miss
Csllen and 1 went out and cat on the back
| platform.
I've had enough adventures to talk about
Tor a year" Madge said. as we chatted the
/ whole thing over. land you can no longer
prag that the K. & A. has never had a rob-
| berry, even Ii you didn't lose anything"
Il have lost something" sighed sadly
| Madge looked at me quickly started to
| speak. hesitated and then said 'Oh. Mr..
Gordon, IL you only could know how badly
| l nave 1elt about that. and how appre-
ctate the sacrifice"
| had only meant that had lost my
heart. and. for that matter probably nv
head. for 1t would have been ungenerous
| even to hint to Miss Cullen that had made
any sacrifice of conscience for her sake, ana
| would as soon have asked her to pay for
1 1t In money as have told her
You mustn't think I began.
| nave feit. she continued. that your
wish to serve us made you do something
| you never would have otherwise done for
! wen. you-any one can see how truthful
/ and horest-and 1t has made me feel so
| padly that we Oh. Mr.. Gordon no one
| has a right to do wrong In this world for ~
| brings such sadness and danger to inno-
cent-And you have been 50 generous"
| l couldn't let this go on. what I did.r
1 W. fa Acrlt A.
| no one Is responsible for 1t but myself"
| should like to think that but 1 can't"
she said Il know We all tried to do some
| thing dishonest. and while YOU didn't do
any real wrong, yet don't think YOU would
| have acted as you did except for our sake.
An eq 1 afraid you may some day regret"
shanL l cried: land. so far from
meaning that had lost my self-respect =
was alluding to quite another thing J.
Timer" she asked.
mo"
What"
Something else you have stolen.
Il haven't" she denied
you have I affirmed
You mean the novel?' she asked; De
| cause L sent 1t In to 81 tonight
I don't mean the novel"
Il can't think of anything more but those
pieces of petrified wood and those yo,,
gave me- she said demurely. II am sure
| that whatever else | have of yours Won
have given me without my asking and IL
you want 1t back you've only got to say
So
Il suppose that would be my very best
course" 1 groaned.
Il hate people who force a present on
one, she continued. and then. Just as one
begins to like it, want 1t back"
Before could speak. she asked hurriedly,
How often do you come to Chicago?'
took that to be a sort Of command that
l was to wait. and though longing to have
1t settled then and there. / braked myself
up and answered her questin. Now I see
what duffer 1 was-Madge told me after
wards that she asked only because she was
so frightened and confused that she felt
she must stop my speaking for a moment.
1 did my best till heard the whistle the
locomotive gives as II runs into yard limits,
and then rose. "Good-by Miss Cullen"
1 said. properly enough. though no DEATH
bed farewell was ever more gloomily
spoken and she responded, "Good-by, Mr..
Gordon" with equal propriety.
I held her hand hating to let her go. and
the first thing 1 knew. / blurted out. II
wish l had the brass of Lord Rallesi''
II don't" she laughed, because. If you
had I shouldn't be willing to let you"
And what she was going to say. and why
she didn't say it, is the concern of. no one
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