The San Francisco call., 1904-11-27
, THE RECKLESS HOUR ~

was all he could do. He thought sne
would understand. If not, there was
no danger but Mrs Wilmington would
enlighten her.
The Manchuria business had been an
opening held out by the old Darby
Thornton for some time. 1t was d
chance to make good by going out there
and clearing up the old boys mercan-
tile interests before the war broke out.
He had stuck 10 1t and had made GOOD,
and the reward had come most unex-
pectedly when said old boy had taken
a notion to die comfortably and oppor-
tunely, and leave his accumulated pos
sessions to the prodigal in the far land.
There had been no thought during
the year of work but Of Gladys. He
had left on the first boat for home to
claim the promise of the tunnel kiss,
and had found instead Estevan, war
ranted, imported antique, tall, suaVe
and slightly gray, with an eye out Tor
ready money.
The thought of it all made him des-
perate tonight. He put her from him
almost roughly In three weeks she
would be the Countess Estevan, chate-
laine of some dinky little old castellated
ruin in Austria. He was sorry that
he had tried to see her, sorry he had
come back, sorry he had made Culver
ton change places with him.
You had better stop crying, he SAID.
We'll be there in a few minutes Es-
tevan might not like it.
She smiled back at him, her eyes
bright with tears.
sc you try to frighten the bad little
girl into good behavior? Well, she
doesn't scare worth cent, Darby.
Your bogie man is such a fragile, prop
er, tissue paper bogie man that the bad
little girl has decided he isn't worth be-
ing afraid Of.
What do you mean?'
Cant you guess? You expect others
to be so good at guessing, you know
You expect to kiss a girl and go away
to Manchuria, or was it the moon? and
then come back and find love in her
eyes, what was it? Like this"
She was laughing at him. He felt
angry and obstinate.
Can you say that you never loved
me?"
mo. 1 cannot" Her eyes met his
course l loved you. Do you think l
would have Kissed you that day If l
had not? And you are right about the
other, too. 1 shall always love you"
He bent toward her with keen, half
shut eyes.
And yet in three wee-is you will be
his wife"
NC, L won I. DO you lnlIlk COulu
after tonight. l shall break the en-
gagement tonight. You have accom-
plished that at least Nov, take the
first boat back to Manchuria.
He smiled slowly and happily. She
had not heard yet of the accumulated
possessions.
We've turned out Of the park he
said. Il don't want to &C to the house
and face a crowd. Gladys, look at me.
No, straight in the eyes, please! Try
to think quickly. I've Come all the
way around the world to see you. I've
always wanted you, you know that. /
was afraid before, and 1 ran away like
a coward. and didn't even give you the
chance to refuse me. Will you refuse
me now?"
''As If it made any difference!" Her
eyes were clear and true and somewhat
indignant IF l have enough money
little Count, isn't there enough for
you? If you go back there"
"What?"
come after you.
Come, nowi"
Her lips were half parted. her eyes
wistful and troubled.
1T will be easy to come back and
break the engagement then. You will
only have to present your husband"
IF 1 dared"
He tapped on the glass slide, and
gave an order to the driver, and they
turned back down the avenue just as
the bells were Ginning midnight.
Copyright, 1904, by Izola Forrester)