Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1905-04-13
The Reckless
Hour *
By IZOLA FORESTER
r--.--,.. 100. - T,ofa Etorracfar
Copyright, 1894. by Izola Forester

clasp on the chlHOn ana lace SlOle
around her throat The pin had been
safe enough. She had volunteered 60
ing back to the boxes for it, and had
found it sticking in the velvet arm of
Aunt Victorias chair, just where she
had left it.
Did you think that 1 was never
coming?" she asked as he reached
the carriage The figure turned
quickly at the sound of her voice, and
she found herself looking into Thorn
toms eyes. She caught her breath and
stopped abruptly, startled and hesi-
tating, afraid to let him guess the great
food Of gladness that swept over her
at sight of him. When one believes
a person to be in Manchuria it is some
what bewildering to meet that person
alone on Broadway at II p. m.
lie did not speak, merely opened the
door for her.
There is some mistake" she paused.
"Of course there Is mistake. There
always is when | come in for anything
good The fact remains that the rest
have gone and that I was told to wait
for you"
"Who told you to waltz"
He took her by the elbow and helped
her imperatlvely into the carriage.
81 was with Mrs. Culverton. She was
In the third box, and l was late. Then
Gully came along and took her home
himself. I believe your aunt told him
to wait for you, but he wanted to go
directly home, so took his place. You
don't believe mef"
ooh, yes, I do. At least / believe
part of II. You always twist the truth
and the fairy tale together so perfectly
one can only guess at which Is which.
/ believe that Mr.. Culverton was asked
TO wait for me-"
Thornton ignored the discrimination.
He was gazing intently at the pale
young face 1t must be true all he had
heard at the club. She did not look
happy. 1t was Vic Wilmington's affair,
the digging up of Esteyan. She always
had some two-for-a-penny title tagging
after her. 1t was only three weeks off
now. The thought brought with 1t
flash of recklessness. They would have
her for a lifetime Tonight for one
short half hour she was his. He leaned
toward her suddenly.
GLADYS, are you sorry to see meT
"Don't" Her eyes met his in half de-
fiant entreaty. ut isn't fair"
Fair to whom"
ITO him"
Thorntons jaws squared aggressive
ly.
"He hasn't anything to say about II
yet You needn't be frightened. The
wolf won't eat you. Won't they even
let you be glad or sorryf"
rDon't: please. please don't"
"Say you are glad TO see me-
"rm not glad to see you. You went
away of your own free will. wish
you had stayed"
"Until II was overY
mo, forever she retorted passion
ately. II never wanted TO see you
again"
He smiled. 1t was Gladys way to
make one last final charge when she
knew she had lost the day.
"You never wanted to see me again."
he repeated, because you are going to
marry q man for whom you don't care
a snap Of your finger, and you did love
me-"
II did not" She faced him with
proud, hurt eyes and flushed cheeks.
He laughed with riotous sense OF
happiness In her pain. If he still had
the power TO hurt her there was hope.
1t was the reckless hour.
"You did, sweetheart, and you do
now, and you always will. You know
you Will. Manchuria or the moon, 1t
won't make any difference, not If you
marry hundred times, not II It's years
before we meet. can always come
back like this and look In your eyes
Ike this and see love In them like
this"
She mot his steady gaze. deaantly
at first, then In open confession, as
he said, and before he knew It she
had covered her face with her hands
and was crying. He felt suddenly
helpless and ashamed.
GLADYS, don't do that. I'm brute,
dear. I'm sorry. | won't say another
word. I'm going back this week. Stop,
dear Gladys'--
He deliberately drew her hands away
from her face. II was dear face.
he had carried It's memory with him
around the world and II had brought
him back TO the starting point. He had
been poor-not decently, openly poor,
but living on hope and blue sky and
terrapln. There was another Darby
Thornton who bestowed spasmodlcally
unexpected and irregular checks on an
undeservlng grandson, also advice and
admonltlons The weight Of gratitude
had become too trying. Darby had
never been able 10 even mp the balance
between the acceptance OF the checks
and the following out Of the good ad-
vice and the admonltlons.
He had thought that Gladys had
known ho was next of kin to Jobs
turkey. Everybody else did. He did
not mind. In n way II rendered him
harmless with undesirable parties SO
far as matrimonial intentions were
concerned. But Gladys was desirable.
He had known that she loved him.
He had left the day after the accident.
It hnd boen her frank betrayal then
that had shown him his course for her
sake. They had been on the train with
party bound for the Whitney place at
Rosemead There had been bn ucci-
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
a headlong rush from the front cars,
snd Il woman's scream rang out shrlly
above all. lie had just stopped be
side Gladys' seat to speak with her,
and she was laughing UP ~ him when
thn collision came, tt 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
Beat and their lips had met for the
first time with death three car lengths
away.
lie had left Rosemcad that nlght
II was all nc could do He thought
she would understand, IL not, there
was no danger but Mrs. Wilmington
would cnllghtcn her.
The Manchurla business had been an
opening held out by the old Darby
Thornton for some time. 1t was n
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