Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1905-04-18

hOSeme1u. Inere lau Deen an acct
dent In the tunnel to the train ahead.
and the one they were on crashed into
the rear cars. In the darkness there
had come the sudden jolt and jar of
grinding brakes. Some people came in
headlong rush from the front cars
and woman's scream rang out shrilly
above ALL He had just stopped be-
side Gladys seat to speak with her.
and she was laughing up at him when
the collision came. 1t was over In an
instant. All he knew was the vivid
sense of her arms clinging around his
neck as he caught her up out OF the
seat and their lips had met for the
first time with death three car lengths
away.
He had left Rosemead that night.
1t was all he could do. He thought
she 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 a
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 to it and made good, and
the reward had come most unexpected
ly when said old boy had taken a no
ton to die comfortably and oppoftune-
ly and leave his accumulated possess
sions 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, a warranted
imported antique, tall, suave and
slightly gray, with an eye out for
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 castel-
lated ruin in Austria. He was sorry
that he had tried to see her sorry he
had come back, sorry he had made
Culverton change places with him.
you had better stop crying" he said.
We'll be there in few minutes. Es-
tevan might not like it,
She smiled back at him, her eyes
bright with tears.
$50 you try to brighten the bad little
girl into good behavior? Well, she
doesn't scare worth cent, Darby.
Your bogy man is such a fragile, prop
er, tissue paper bogy man that the
bad little girl has decided he isn't
worth being 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 1t? Like thisg"
She was laughing at him. He felt
angry and obstinate.
Can you say that You never loved
me?"
mo, cannot" Her eyes met his with
calm, defensive candor. "Of course
| loved you. Do you think l would
have kissed you that day IL had not?
And you are right about the other too.
I shall always love YOU"
He bent toward her with keen, half
shut eyes.
"And yet in three weeks you will be
his wife"
"No, won't Do you think could
after tonight? / shall break the en-
gagement tonight. You have accom-
plished that at least. Now, take the
first boat back to Manchurla."
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 go to the house |
and face 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 al |
ways wanted you, you know that | |
was afraid before, and | ran away like |
a coward and didn't even give you the |
chance to refuse me- Win you refuse |
me nowT'
''As IL 1t made any dlfferenceT Her |
eyes were clear and true and some |
what indignant. IF | have enough |
money to satisfy even Aunt Victoria |
and her little count, isn't there enough |
FOR you? If you go back there
"WhatT'
Il shall give away all the money and |
come after your
"Come, now"
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"