Mower County transcript., 1904-07-20

eyes were steady and lnQuiring.
Then the butler bounced on Thorpe
from benlnd with the intent to do great
bodily harm.
morris" commanded Hilda sharply
"what are you doing?'
The man cut short his heroism in
confusion.
"You may co." concluded Hilda.
Thorpe stood straight and unwinking
by the portiere. After moment he
spoke.
"I have come to tell you that you
were right and l was wrong" said he
steadily "You told me there could be
nothing better than love. In the pride
Of my strength told you this was not
80. l was wrong"
He stood for another instant looking
directly at her. then turned sharply
and, head erect, walked from the room.
Before he had reached the outss door
the girl was at his side.
"Why are you going?" she asked.
N have nothing more to say
"Nothing?'
Nothing at all.'
She laughed happily to herself.
"But have-much. Come back"
They returned to the little morning
room, Th0lpe's calked boots gouging
out the little triangular furrows in the
tardwood floor. Neither noticed that.
"What are you going to do noww
, catechised, facing him in the mid
die of the room. A long tendril of her
beautiful corn silk hair fell across her
eyes; her red lips parted in faint, visit.
full smile; beneath the draperies of her
loose gown the pure slender hines of
her figure leaned toward him.
Il am going back" he replied pa
hently.
Il knew you would come," said She
Il have been expecting you. Oh, Har-
ry," she breathed with a sudden flash
of insight, you are a man born to be
much misunderstood
He held himself rigid, but in his
veins was creeping 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 at
last. The voice was not his own. "Go
away! Go awayv'
Suddenly she swayed to him.
"Oh, Harry, Harry she whispered.
must tell you? Don't you see?'
The flood 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 blindly through her hair
until it came down about them both in
a cloud Of spun light.
"Tell me!' he whispered. 'Tell mev'
"Oh, oh!' she cried. 'Please! What
1s ?'
Il do not believe it," he murmured
savagely.
She drew herself from him with gen
tie dignity.
Il am not worthy to say IT, she said
soberly, "but love you with all nv
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 unconsciously he had been la
tenseness of his nerves relaxed. He sa-
vored deliberately the joy of luxuri-
Gus couch, rich hangings, polished floor,
subdued light, warmed atmosphere. He
watched with soul deep gratitude the
soft g1rlish curves Of Hilda's body, the
poise Of her flower head, the piuuant,
half wistful, half childish set of her
red lips, the clear starlike glimmer Of
her dusky eyes. 1t was all near to him
his
kiss me, DEAR" she said.
She leaned her cheeks against her
hand and her hand against his shoul-
der.
Il have been reading story lately"
said she, chat has interested me very
much. 1t was about a man who re-
nounced all he held most dear to shield
friend" ,s"
"Yes," said Thorpe,
Then he renounced all his most val
liable possessions because poor com
mon man needed the sacrifice"
sounds like medieval story" said
ne, with Unconscious humor.
1T happsned recently" rejoined Hill
da. II read 1t In the papers,"
"Well, he blazed good trail," was
Thorpe's sighing comment. s"Probably
he had his chance. We don't ill OF us
get that. Things go crooked and get