Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-02-25
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She laughed !. ppily to herself.

she cateclised. facing him in the mid
die of the room. \ long tendril OF her
beautiful corn silk hair fell across her
eyes; her red lips parted in faint, visit
full smile; beneath the Jraperies of ler
loose gown the pure slender lines OF
her figure leaned toward him.
Il am going back" he replied pa
tienty.
Il knew you would come" said she.
Il have been expecting you. Oh. Har-
ry." she breathed, with sudden flash
of insight, you are n man born to be
much misunderstood"
lie held himself rigid. but in his
veins was creeping n molten fire, and
the fire was beginning TO glow duly in
his eye. Her whole being called him.
And still she stood there before him,
saying nothing, leaning slightly toward
him. her red lips half parted. her eyes
fixed almost wistfully on his face.
Go away" he whispered hoarsely ut
last The voice was not his own. Go
away. TO away
Suddenly she swaycd to him.
"Oh. Harry. Harry" she whispered
"must I tell you? Don't you see?"
The food broke through him. He
seized her hungrily. He crushed her to
him until she gasped he pressed his
lips against hers until she all but cried
out with pain Of it, he ran his great
brown hands blndly through her hair
until it came down about them both in
cloud Of spun light.
Tell me- he whispered. "Tell me-"
"Oh, oh" she cried. please! What
is it?'
81 do not believe it," he murmured
savaGeiy.
She drew herself from him with gen
tie dignity.
Il am not worthy to say It," she said
soberly. ''but ] 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
eased the emotional strain under which
| perhaps unconscously he had been la
boring for nearly a year past. The
tcnseness of his nerves relaxed. He sn-
vored deliberately the joy Of a luXuri
Gus couch, rich hnngings, polished floor
subdued light. warmed atmosphere. He
F., watched with soul deep gratitude the
| soft Sirlsh curves of Hldas body. the
| pose of her flower head, the piquant
| half wistful. half childish set Of her
| rcd lips. the clear starike glimmer OF
her dusky eyes. 1t was all near to him
| his
Kiss me. dear" she said.
She leaned her checks against her
| hand and her hand against his Shout
| der.
II have been reading n story lately
said she. that has interested me very
! much. L. was about q man who re-
nounced al he held most dear to shield
Il friend"
Yes" said Thorpe.
Then he renowned all his most val
| liable possessions because a poor com
mon man needed the Sacrifice
sounds like a medieval story" sait
he. with unconscious humor.
1T happened recently" rejoinci Hi
da. II rend IT in the papers"
well, he blaZed good TRAIL wa
Thorpe's signing comment. "Probabl,
he had his chance, We don't al. of II
get that. Things go crooked and &c
tangled up. so we have TO do the hes
: we can. don't believe I'd have don
it."
"Oh, you are delicious" she cried.
After Il time she said very humbly
Il want TO beg your pardon for misur
Outstanding you and causing YOU s
much suffering. | was very stupid an
didn't see = you could not do rs
wanted you to-.
THAT is nothing to forgive. acte
like Il fool"
II have known about you she wen
on. at has all come out in the papers
1t has been very exciting. Poor boy
Won look tired"
lie Strengthened himself suddenly
Il have forgotten-actually forgotten,
he cried, little bitterly. "Why, ! al
pauper, a bankrupt. T.
"Harry," she interrupted gently, bu
} very firmly, you must not say wha
! you were going to say. ] cannot ALLOW
il. Money came between us before
| 1t must not do so again. Am l no
right, dear:'
I She smiled at him with the lips of
/. child and the eyes of a woman.
= Yes" he agreed after struggle
= you are right. But now | must be
0 gin all over again. 1t will be Ion
4 time before | shall be able to clair
r you. | have my way to make"
Yes" said she automatically.
o But you" he cried suddenly. 9Th
t papers remind me. How about tina
Morton"
,. What about him?" asked the cir
astonished. HE is very happily Ell
II gagged"
Thorpe's face slowly filled wit
blood.
z you'll break the engagement {
e once" he commanded. a little harshly
'Why should ] break the engage
u mentf' dcShanded Hilda, eying hi
@ with some alarm.
q You actually don't think he's el
@ gagged to mel" she burst out finally.
II isn't he?" asked Thorpe.
"Why. no. stupid! He's engaged
q Elizabeth Carpenter. Wallace's slste
y Now where did you get that sill
idea"