Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1904-10-13
tightening at my heartstrings, and q
rush of tenderness swept over me.

you can't know" and she drew my
hand up to her face and leaned her
lips upon II.
poor heart" said, and | bent and
laid a gentle kiss on her forehead. She
turned her pale, luminous face up to
me, wistfully, like child. and l
kissed her warm, red mouth. Then my
heart began humping like a hydraulic
ram and my hands trembled strange
ly. tried to steady them. She would
be SO angry II she thought that i
dared. I had kissed Katherine num-
berless times, as man may kiss his
sister, lovingly, tenderly, but abso-
lutely without thrill. They had
never been like this. was at loss'
I had never dreamed Of Katherine ex-
cept as my dear old friend-my man
hood chum, and MS for her-my heart
sank, for I knew she had been utterly
devoted to old Landry and mourned
passionately for him. At least l
thought 30. II she knew what was
thinking she would hate me-loathe
me, forever. II she knew-ah, II she
knew. She sat there dreaming, her
eyes, as I thought, on memory's dis
tant mountain peaks; her dear, warm.
brown eyes that loved.
She turned to me with little laugh.
"It's so nice TO be loved q little"
she said, as she nestled against my
coat, as II she belonged there. fought
with myself a moment. She must
have felt my heart beating. ! was
horribly ashamed. Then ! suddenly
lost my self-control, and STOPPING tc-
ward her, took her in my arms and
kissed her passionately, many, many
times, passionately, eagerly, as had
never kissed anyone in my life-as
had never wanted to kiss anyone be-
fore. After time I lifted my head
and waited for the storm. ! knew 1t
must come. I felt like whipped cur.
though every pulse in my body
throbbed with delight and Joy. What
ever came, I knew now. was blind
no longer. They talk Of love being
blind. I say it's the other way about;
it's love that clears our sight-so we
can really see where we have always
before being cropping in a dim half
light.
She nestled closer in my arms and
laughed little, low laugh Of content-
ment.
"Oh, Freddy, boy" she said, Il
thought you would never wake up.
I've been such long, long time wait
ing to come home"
I started back and faced her In
amazement.
"And-and Landry?" faltered.
ooh. my dear, I never loved Lam
dry" (Ah, so I knew now why he
was glad to go, poor duffer, poor, un-
selfish, loving old duffer.)
HE knew didn't, but he-he-
cared, and he knew loved you, so he
helped me. He told me you loved me.
only you were asleep, and I've waited
SO long-so long for this" she sighed,
happily
looked in her eyes incredulously.
Kit, why in the name Of common
sense didn't you tell me?"
Tell you? Freddy. how could l!
wasn't sure you-you cared, and
sometimes l was sure you didn't. II
was only because Landry was SO posi-
tive that dared to hope. could only
wait in silence, and since Lam
dry died 1t has been SO lonely, SO
drearily lonely"
Poor old GIRL" l said in her hair.
poor darling old girl"
you've lost a whole year." she
cried, "a whole year."
Then you knew year ago."
Eyes; it's funny. Freddy, but
couldn't imagine why no man ever
moved me the least tiny bit. When
Landry told me he cared, tried to
think I loved him, but he said then
that l didn't, and afterward, he knew
1t was you. He watched my eyes, he
said, when you were about, and when
he told me that, l was as astonished
as you were when told you.
when your horse threw you that
time, then knew beyond doubt, for
suffered agonies thinking what
might have happened. You were so
CHASTITY that was horribly frightened.
felt sure that you were at least
manned for life."
And then, she brought me the letter
-Landry's letter, that was not to be
delivered until I had found my own.
Oh, that letter. II had only seen 1t
when Landry died. Kit would not have
grown pale waiting for what was al
ways hers.
"You COMPOUNDED blind old bat" he
wrote, what in the name Of all that's
holy, do you stay around here for? II
was such an egregrious donkey as
you are I'd 60 of and die, but I've got
to be the one instead-and I've got
eyes to see. That's ever the way in
this vale Of tears.
'Well, you must know some time. II
will come to you all at once, as the
knowledge of 1t came to me-then, old
boy, / wouldn't mind being In your
boots. I'd give my life for that one
hour as happily and freely as I'd toss
q copper to q pickaninny. 1t can't be
so ] give you my blessing and what