The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-08-16
rush of tenderness swept over me.

| On, 50 IOnely, freuuy-SO lOnely--- you can't know" and she drew my l hand up to her face and leaned her lips upon 1t.
 Poor heart" said, and I bent and | laid a 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 a hydraulic ram and my hands trembled strange ly. I tried to steady them. She would 1 be SO angry if she thought that l dared. had kissed Katherine num- berless times, as a man may kiss his sister. lovingly. tenderly. but abso- lutely never like this. was at a loss. had never dreamed of Katherine ex- cept as my dear old friend-my man. | hood chum. and as for her-my heart sank, for knew she had been utterly devoted to old Landry and mourned passionately for him. At least I thought so. If she knew what I was thinking she would hate me-loathe me. forever. If she knew-ah if she knew. She sat there dreaming, her eyes, as l thought, on memory's dis 1 tant mountain peaks; her dear, warm, brown eyes that loved. She turned to me with a little laugh. Its so nice to be loved a little," she said, as she nestled against my coat as if she belonged there. I fought l with myself a moment. She must horribly ashamed. Then I suddenly l lost my self-control. and stooping to- l ward her. took her in my arms and kissed her passionately. many, many times. passionateiy. eagerly. as l had | never kissed anyone in my life-as I 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 a whipped cur, though every pulse in my body throb- bed with delight and joy. Whatever came. knew now. I was blind no longer. They talk of love being blind. I say it's the other way about; it's love that clears your sight-so we can really see where we have always btfore been grooping in a dim half light.
 | She nestled closer in my arms and l laughed little, low laugh of content l ment.
 'Oh. Freddy, boy" she said. .I thought you would never wake up I've been such a long. long time wait ing to come home"
 I started back and faced her in l amazement.
 | "And-and LandryT' 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. | Kit. why in the name of common sense didn't you tell met" Tell you? Freddy. how could I? 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 Landry died 1t has been so lonely, so drearily lonely"
 Poor old girl" said poor darl- ing old girl"
 You've lost a whole year." she cried. "a whole year"
 Then you knew year agoT "Yes; Its funny. Freddy, but I couldn't imagine why no man ever moved me the least tiny bit. When Landry told me he cared, I tried to think I loved him. but he said then that I 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, I was as astonished as you were when I told you.
 When your horse threw you that time. then I knew beyond doubt, for suffered agonies thinking what might have happened. You were so ghastly that I was horribly frightened felt sure that you were at last maimed 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. If had only seen 1t when Landry died. Kit would not have grown pale waiting for what was always hers.
 You confounded blind old bat" he wrote what in the name of all that's holy, do you stay around here for? If was such an egregious donkey as you are I'd go off 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 It will come to you all at once. as the knowledge of 1t came to me-then, old boy 1 wouldn't mind being in your boots. I'd give my life for that one hour as happily and freely as I'd toss copper to pickaninny. It can't be so l give you my blessing and what little can add to your future-though. of course you know. I mean hers-and that Is the fortune that haven't been able to squander with all my idle worthlesness. Make her happy with 1t, If you can, and SO I shall know I have hand in her comfort after all
 You weren't cut out for a pilldoper. old man. Drop 1t. We'll. so long. Take keer of yerself. and be good to her to make up for your cussed stupidity. Landry"
 The name stared up at us in his we'll known writing. and suddenly, an over towering sense of his nearness master ed me. Kit reached out trembling hand. felt a shudder go over her and mist obscured my sight for mo- ment Then:
 Yes, yes" heard her whisper. 1aintly' T see you. dear. dear Lam dry"