The Forrest City times., 1904-06-03
v OUT q
OF THE WIND
Copyright, 1904, by Daily story Pub. Col
ISABEL BOWMAN TuILEY


There is not one of you" he was
saying, with suppressed vehemence,
who really appreciates deep, honest,
enduring love If ii isn't always froth-
ing over with compliments. Words
have more weight with a woman than
reticent faithfulness. fellow who
fools, but fiatters her. will be able to
win with her, when a poor dog Of a
fellow who only knows how TO love her
will be turned down with the cold
comfort of tolerant friendship
He was glowering across the ice cold
spring, bubbling up from the messy
footrest of the mountain, at girl who
vas idly swinging tin cup by its han
die encircling her forefinger. She was
dressed all in white and her blond hair
eurled out from under her white hat in
provocative little rings. whilst her soft,
appealing blue eyes were gazing at
Peter with exasperating innocence and
mock admiration.
How wise you are, Peter" she said
IN her fresh, sweet voice You really
have brought the study of woman to a
line point! Your knowledge of US is
profound"
The red deepened on Peters face at
abould be profound" he growled
from the amount of time have
wasted in studying you
mo time-don't the copybooks tell
ss?-is wasted that is well employed,
and am all sweetness and light "
That's the trouble-you are sweet,
diabolically, irresistably sweet"-Kit-
TVS lashes dropped to hide the smile
IN her eyes-"but you haven't an atom
af heart"
t"-guilelessly-"if had been
endowed with a heart, would it have
been preordained to beat for you,
Peter?"
Peter muttered something between
his teeth. "Of course, l make no such
absurd claim! But II you had a shred
of feeling you would not play with a
mans heart as though ii was a rub
Der ball, for the sake of seeing how
high you can knock it and how often
II will rebound"
A shade of guilty expression swept
ever Kitty's face, but she FASTENED to
protest But Peter raised a silencing
hand.
4 know my own experience. | have
proposed to you four times"-"three"
WIS the humble correction across the
spring-"But this has been final: I
shall accept DR.. Browns offer to go
abroad with him next week to study
tuberculosis, and If am not man
enough to cast you out OF my heart
ought to be shot as a weakling!" and
he strobe down to the lake where 4
Jawl was drawn half up on the shore.
They had rowed across the lake from
The opposite shore, where the cottage
was her parents had rented for the
summer, and had landed to refresh
themselves at the spring. And here
Peter had again laid his heart and
promising future as physician
at her disposal Heretofore he had
accepted refusal with a manly dignity
that had kept his pain we'll hidden and
only left visible his logged determi-
nation to succeed. So quiet had he
been that Kitty had no realization Of
his wounu and had half doubted it's ex-
astenee, and SO to-day. instead of her
usual gentle and half alluring refusal
she had pricked him on to his entire
loss OF self-command and an unwonted
declaration OF finality. Like most per-
sons who play with fire as an amuse-
ment she had let II get beyond her
control. As she gazed after him as he
went to the boat she saw by the set OF
Ms shoulders that his words had not
been filled with air. And then, to her
amused dismay. she also saw that he
vas so absorbed in his own thoughts
that he had pushed the yawl into the
lake and was getting In himself with
cut realizing that he was leaving her
behind.
She went halfway down the path and
called to him. "Peter," she said.
slaintively, remember II is five miles
walk around the lake and don't think
am quite equal to it to-day"
Peter awolie with mortified conster-
nation at his unintentional rudeness.
Il beg your pardon" he stammered
II wasn't thinking what was do
ing"
He held the bow while she stepped in
but he did not raise his hand to help
her, but when she was safely settled
among the cushions in the stern he got
In and took up the oars without any fur
,her words. He pulled out into the
lake, his white duck hat pushed down
ever his brows. his lips set in a
x,raight line that betokened unaltera.
bic resolution, his eyes gazing over
her head at the shore they were leav.
ing behind; neither was there any fur.
aAsr lettering or dallying with the oars
They we're piled with steady monoto
ny that meant a straight and swift
home getting.
Kitty, too. was silent. but her brair
vas not idle; she was revolving some
means by which he would be compelled
10 be the first TO break the silence
Gnce broken. Kitty hoped that her pow.
n might be regained. Yet she knew
Peters resolutions were concrete
zsting-and she wondered what life