Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-02-23

knew that you were he.'
ooh" Crailey's lips began to form
smile Of such appealing and inimlta-
BILE sweetness that Voltaire would have
trusted him, a smile altogether rose
leaves. Then lose you" he said,
for my only chance to know you was
! in keeping 1t hidden from you. And
now you understand"
mo-" she answered gravely, II don't
understand. That is what troubles me.
II did and believed you had the right
Of the difference could believe it no
sin that you should speak to me, should
take me home now. think it is wrong
not to act from your own understand
ing Of things"
The young man set his expression as
one indomitably fixed upon the course
of honor, cost what it might, and In tile
very action his lurking pleasure in do
ing it hoped out in the flicker Of a
twinkle in his eyes and as instantly
sought cover again-the flea in the rose
jar.
"Then you must ask some other" he
said firmly. "a disinterested person
should tell you. The difference was
political in the beginning, but became
personal afterward, and it is now a
quarrel which can never be patched up.
though, for my part, wish that it
could be. l can say no more, because
party to it should not speak"
She met his level look squarely at
last, and no man ever had more truth
full pair of eyes than Crailey Gray, for
1t was his great accomplishment that
he could adjust his emotion, his reason
and something that might be called his
faith to At any situation In any char.
acter.
"You may take me home" she an.
swered. II may be wrong and even
disloyal, but l do not feel 1t so now.
You did very brave thing tonight to
save him from loss, and 1 think that
what you have said was just what you
should have said"
So they went down the street, the
hubbub and confusion Of the fire grow
ing more and more indistinct behind
them. They walked slowly, and for q
time neither spoke, yet the silence was
of kind which the adept rejoiced to
have produced thus soon-their second
meeting. He waited until they passed
Into the shadows of the deserted Ca
rewe street before he spoke, There lie
stopped abruptly. at which she turned.
astonished.
snow that you have saved my life,'
be said in low, tremulous tone, "what
are you going to do with itY'
| Her eyes opened almost as widely as
| they had at her first sight of him in
her garden. There was long pause
| before she replied, and when she did it
was to his considerable surprise.
u have never seen play except the
funny little ones we acted at the con-
vent" she said but isn't that the
way they speak on the stages"
| Crailey realized that his Judgment of
the silence had been mistaken, and vet
1t was with thrill of delight that he
recognized her clear reading of him.
he had been too ford again.
LET us CO." His voice was soft with
restrained forgiveness. "You Knocked
me once before"
Knocked you?' she repeated as they
went on.
Knocked me-" he said firmly. "Mock-
! ed me for seeming theatrical, and yet
you have learned that what said was
| true, as you will again."
She unused upon this, then, as in
whimsical indulgence to an importu-
nate child:
"Well, tell me what you mean when
you say I saved your life"
"You came alone" he began hastily,
ITO stand upon that burning roof
whence all but him had fedv Her
laughter rang out, interrupting him.
| my room was on the fourth floor at
st. Mary's. and didn't mind climbing
three flights this evening"
Crailey's good nature was always per-
feet. you mock me, and you mock
me" he cried, and made her laughter
but part Of gay duet II know
have gone too fast, have said things /
should have waited to say, but, ah,
remember the small chance I have
against the others who can see you
when they like. Don't fout me be-
cause I,try to make the most Of q rare.
stolen moment with you"
j "Dop' she exclaimed, grave upon the
instant. "Do make the most Of It'll !
have nothing but tnexperience. Make
the most by treating me seriously,
won't you7 I know you can, and +
r. She faltered to full stop. She was
earnest and quiet, and there had been
something in her tone, too, as very Of
ten there was, that showed how young
she was. "Oh," she began again, turn.
Ing to him impulsively. II have thought
about you since that evening in the gar.
den, and have wished could know
you. can't be quite clear how 1t hap.
pened, but even those few minutes left
a number Of strong Impressions about
you. And the strongest was that you
! were one with whom could talk Of g
great many things, If you would only
be real with me. I believe, though I'm
not sure why do, that 1t is very diff.
f1cult for you to be real. Perhaps be-
cause you are SO different at different
times that you aren't sure yourself
which the real you is. But the person
| that you are beginning to be for my
benefit must be the most triaing of al
your selves. lighter and easier to put or
than the little mask you carried the
other night. If there were nothing bet
ter underneath the mask, might play
too"
odd you learn this at the convent q