The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1906-12-06

The blue-gray eyes were downcast,
II don't know. Having asked 40
much. and accepted so much from him
1t shall be as he says, mother"
The afternoon had been all that a
summer afternoon on the brown high
lands can be, and the powerful tour
ing car had swept them from zile to
mile over the dun hills like an earth
skimming dragon whose wing-beat was
the muffied, explosive thud of the
motor.
Through most OF the miles Ellnor
had given herself up to silent enjoy
ment of the rapture Of swift motion.
and Ormsby had respected her mood,
as he always did. But when they
were on the high hills beyond the
minins-camp of Megilp. and he had
thrown the engines out of gear TO
brake the car gently down the long in
clines. there was room for speech.
This is our last spin together on
the high plains, ! suppose" he said.
your mother has fixed upon to-mor-
row for our return to town. hasn't
she?"
Elinor confirmed il half-absently.
She had been keyed up to face the in
evitable in this drive with 0rmsby.
and she was afraid now that he was
going to break her resolution by a
dip into the commonplace.
Are you glad or sorry?" he asked.
Her reply was evasive.
Il have enjoyed the thin. clean air
and the freedom of the wide horizons.
Who could help it?"
But you have not been entirely hap
pyf"
II was on her lips to say some con-
ventional thing about the constant
Earring note in all human happiness.
but she changed II TO a simple mo. "
May try IL I can give the reason?"
She made a reluctant little gesture
Of assent; some such signal OF ac-
quiescence as Marie Antoinette may
have given the waiting headsman.
you have been afraid every day
lest should begin a second time to
press you for an answer. haven't your"
She could not thrust and parry with
him. They were past all that
YES" she admitted briefly.
"You break my heart. Elinor." he
said. after a long pause. But
with a sudden Tightening of the lips
I'm not going TO break yours"
She understood him. and her eyes
filed quickly with the swift shock
OF gratitude.
IF you had made a study Of woman
kind through ten llfetimes instead OF
part OF one, you could not know
when and where TO strike truer and
deeper" she said; and then softly:
why can't you make Inc love you.
Brookes?"
He took his foot from the brake
pedal, and for ten seconds the released
car shot down the slope unhindered.
Then he checked the speed and an
swered her.
"A little while ago I would have said
didn't know: but now | do know. II
is because you love David Kent: you
loved him before had my chance"
She did not deny the principal fact.
but she gave him his opportunity 20
set It aside II he could-and would.
Call It foolish, romantic sentiment.
IL you like. Is there no way to shame
me out of it?'
He shook his head slowly.
"You don't mean that?"
But II say that | do; IL insist
that am willing to be shamed out OF
IT,"
His smile was that Of brother who
remembers tardily to be loving-kind.
Il shall leave that task for some one
who cares less for you and for your
true happiness than | do, or ever shall.
'And 1t will be a mighty thankless SER
vice that that some one will render
you"
But ought to be whipped and sent
to bed" she protested. almost tear
fully. do you know what have done ?
how have"
She could not quite put IL in words
even for him, and he helped her gen.
erously, as before.
Il know what Kent hasn't done;
| wDlch Is more 10 the point but ne
will do it fast enough IL you will
give him half a chance"
NO" she said definitlvely.
Il say yes. One thing, and one
thing only, has kept him from telling
you any time since last autumn: that
is sort OF a finical loyalty to me
| saw how matters stood when he came
aboard of our train at Gaston-I'm ask
ing you TO believe that | didn't know
II beforehand saw then that my only
hope was to make a handfast friend
OF him. And / did IT,"
81 believe you can do anything YOU
try to do" she said warmly
This time his smile was a mere
g-imace.
"You will have to make one excep.
ton. after this; and SO shall I. And
since II is the first Of any consequences
ia all my mounting years, II grinds
can't throw another man out of tbs
window and take his place"
IF you were anything but what you
are, you would have thrown him out o.
the window another way" she re
/