Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-07-07

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 b!indly through her hair
until 1t came down about them both In
cloud Of spun light
Tell me!' he whispered. Tell mev'
"Oh, oh'' she cried. Pleased What
Is ity'
II do not believe It," he murmured
savagely.
She drew herself from him with gen.
tie dignity.
81 am not worthy to say IT, she said
soberly. "but / love you with oil my
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
boring for nearly year past. The
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 girlish curves of Hilda's body, the
poise Of her flower head, the piquant.
half wistful, half childish set Of her
red lips, the clear starlike glimmer of
her dusky eyes. It was all near to him
his.
kiss me, DEAR" she said.
She leaned her cheeks against her
hand and her hand against his shout
der.
II have been reading story lately"
said she, that has interested me very
much. 1t was about a man who re-
nounced all he held most dear to shield
a friend
EYES," said Thorpe.
"Then he renowned all his most val
liable possessions because q poor COM
mon man needed the sacrifice"
Sounds like medieval story" said
he with unconscious humof.
ut happened recently" rejoined Hill
da. II read 1t in the papers"
"Well, he blazed good trail" was
Thorpe's siahing comment. Probably
he had his chance. We don't all Of rs
get that Things go crooked and get
tangled up, so we have to do the best
we can. I don't believe I'd have done
It,"
ooh, you are deliciousv' she cried
After a time she said very humbly:
II want to beg your pardon for misun-
derstanding you and causing you SO
much suffering. was very stupid and
didn't see why you could not do as I
wanted you to-
''That is nothing to forgive. acted
like fool"
II have known about you" she went
on. ''It has all come out in the papers.
1t has been very exciting. Poor boy,
you look tired"
He Strengthened himself suddenly.
II have forgotten-actually forgotten
he cried, little bitterly. why, am
q pauper, a bankrupt. r.
'narry," she interrupted gently, but
very firmly. you must not say what
you were going to say. I cannot allow
it, Money came between US before.
1t must not do SO again. Am not
right, dearY'
She smiled at him with the lips of
child and the eyes Of a woman.
YES" he agreed after struggle,
''you are right. But now must be-
gin all over again. 1t will be a long
time before l shall be able to claim
you. l have my way to make"
"Yes," said she automatically.
"But your he cried suddenly. 1.-The
papers remind me. How about that
MortonY
"What about him7" asked the girl.
astonished. "He is very happily en-
gagged"
Thorpe's face slowly filed with
blood
you'll break the engagement at
once" he commanded, little harshly.
"Why should l break the engage
ment?" demanded Hilda, eying him
with some alarm.
"You actually don't think he's en-
gagged to mew she busst out finally.
Isn't hep asked Thorpe.
"Why, no, stupid! He's engaged to
Elizabeth Carpenter, Wallace's sister.
Now where did you get that silly
idea?"