Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-10-13
frightening at my heartstrings, and "a rush of tenderness swept over me

frightening at my heartstrings, and "a rush of tenderness swept over me.
 Lonely, old girI?" asked softly. "Oh, so lonely, Freddy-so lonely you can't know" and she drew my hand up to her face and leaned her lips upon it.
 Poor heart" said, and I bent and laid gentle kiss on her forehead. She turned her pale, luminous face up to me. wistfully. like child. and kissed her warm, red mouth. Then my heart began humping like hydraulic ram and my hands trembled strange ly. tried to steady them. She would be so angry if she thought that dared. had kissed Katherine num- berless times, as a man may kiss his sister, lovingly, tenderly.. but abso- lutely without thrill. They had never been like this. I was at a loss. I had never dreamed of Katherine ex- cept as my dear old friend-my man. hood chunn. and as for her-my heart sank, for I knew she had been utterly devoted to old Landry and mourned passionately for him. At least I thought so If she knew what was thinking she would hate ,me-loathe me, forever, If she knew--ah, If she knew. She sat there dreaming, her eyes, as thought, on memory's dis tant mountain peaks; her dear, warm, brown eyes that loved.
 She turned to me with 8 little laugh.
 ''It's so nice to be loved a little," she said, as she nestled against my coat, as If she belonged there. fought with myself moment She must have felt my heart beating. I was horribly ashamed Then I suddenly lost my self-control, and stooping to- ward her, I took her in my arms and kissed her passionately, many. many times, passionately, eagerly. as l 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. felt like whipped eur. though every pulse in my body throbbed with delight and joy What ever came. 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 VIC can really see where we have always before being .groping in, a dim half light.
 She nestled closer in my arms and laughed little, low laugh of content ment.
 "Oh, Freddy, boy" she said. "i 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?" I faltered
 "Oh, my dear, I never loved Lan- dry" (Ah, so I knew now why he was glad to go, poor duffer, poor. un- selfish, loving old duffer.)
 "He knew I didn't, but he--he- cared, and he knew I 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.
 Exit, why in the name of comnor sense didn't you tell me?"
 ''Te1l you? Freddy. how could T.? wasn't sure you--you cared, and sometimes I was sure you didn't. It was only because Landry was so posi- tive that dared to hope. could only wait in silence, and since Lan- dry died 1t has been so lonely, so Grearily lonely"
 Poor old girl" I said in her hair, ''poor darling old girl.''
 You've lost a whole year." she or{od sso whaJo vaar
 "Then you knew year ago?"
 Yes; it's funny, Freddy, but :