The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1904-01-29
quickly to a chair and sat down heav-


a harsh, deep voice-"and what's more,
| believe it's the safest kind of love"
He pulled at his gloves savagely.
"Oh, indeed" she said. hooking him
playfully, "since when did you come
to have an opinion as to loves safe
ness?"
Since this long time he answered,
sharply. You yourself taught me.
You always said love brought suffer
ing-that it was a thing to be avoid
ed" He rose and walked to the win
dow, then turned rcstlessly and strobe
UP and down the room with hands
thrust deep in his pockets.
The woman watched him quietly.
He was in d mood and she would hu-
nor it.
Look at this" she said, pulling a
volume from under a pile Of papers.
It's the last Yellow Book. and there
is an appreciation of Yvette Guilbert
in it that will delight you"
"Yvette Guiibert." He stopped his
quick walking and looked fNedly at
her, you are very like her-that tall,
slender thing all in white, with those
long, expressive, black-gloved arms.
An ugly oma Jolie laide, as they
say in Paris, but the Sol of WOman
who gets to a mans head and intoXi-
Gates him. All. you wOmen!" He
crossed to the chair again, sitting,
head against them.
The moved to him softly. A
great light was in her eyes. a mother
light, serene and holy. She laid a
gentle hand on his bright. thick hair.
DON'T" he cried, harshly. Then.
in a half whisper, Help me, Marah."
~ The woman started back. Her face
grew gray with a sudden pallor, blush
shadows crept about her lips. Help
you'll she cried, gaily, for his face was
hidden. How can | help you?"
Help me to give you up"
A silence fell about the Down
in the street an organ was grinding
out paradise Alley" She wondered
why it brought her a memory of a
crowded race-meet and a sweet girl
face framed in red hair that looked i'll
to hers, while a voice sang to the
measure. The flies buzZed heavily. A
spider dipped from the root on his
slender thread, touched her hair. then
ran nimbly up again.
Then the woman called Marah
spoke. Her voice was full of laugh
ter. SIS that all?" she asked, gaily,
what a TODD about nothing. Why,
OF course I'll help you. Are you going
to tell me such a light thing as this has
so completely upset you? You, a man
of iron?"
He lifted his face and looked at her.
The cynic's smile crept about his eyes,
The pallor had been swept from her
cheeks by a vivid flush. Her eyes
burned.
IF I thought you'd take it SO light
w. he said, grimly, 'I'd have spared
myself some suffering. Egad, one
never understands women. They are
about as constant as the Winds
Maybe they are" she said. cheer.
lily, as his head dropped upon his arms
again, and maybe that is n Of our
compensations, for we have to suffer
much-but never mind these things
Tell me why you have come to this
mind. Have l." her voice broke fol
any way by any solecism? l know how
f%astidious. how particular you are
He shrank a little, knowing her FOL
the perfect gentlewoman she was; j
shamed him to be thought caddish ant
unappreciative.
mot that, not that at ALL" he said
in a muff1ed voice. "Oh, can't yol
see? Didn't you see? Won't you hell
me, Marah?"
l think it was then that her hear
broke. Something surely snapped i,
her being and went from her forever
But still she smiled. 1t was a stiff
smile, as if the muscles had set tina
She still spoke heartily. though he
voice took tenderer tones.
Didn't you know that I only wan
your happiness" she said, slowly ant
gently, ..and indeed this quite stout
", Il was getting a little tired myself
There is SO much work in the worl,
that there is not much time left TO
love. | shall write the article o.
platonics from a different and NOR
healthy point of view she added.
triie bitterly.
He said not a word.
In the silence another foot pattere
along the passage. There came
knock on the glass door, and the WON
an walked slowly to it. A boy stoo
waiting. 9
ANY o p ready he asked, hui
riedly. MIR. Brock sent me for som
Said you had an editorial or sumfin'
| 1T will be ready in an hour or 81
! Jim said the woman, speaking soft
ly. s'Tll talk to Mr.. Brock down tn
tube. Don't you come back, you
i only interrupt me. MI. Brock will civ
{ final directions about IT.
She walked to the tube and whistle
! us that Mr.. Brock? Mr.. Brocl
; would you mind putting Mr.. Todd /
t Bert Lisle on to my work tonight?
feel done up with a headache, and /
II IL 49, t#A