The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-02-22
A Tender Conscience
[Original.l

nrSt StumD1nS DlOCk. Cdlleu Neuuto-
day and Saturday evenings-to arrive
not before s, to leave not after IL. l
invariably arrived as the clock struck
the hour Of meeting and departed
we'll, 1 stayed as long after IL as l
dared. On the seventh day after our
engagement l was on time and was
ushered into the green drawing room,
which. it had been stipulated, should
be reserved for our exclusive use. Eva
advanced as usual to meet me, and
was proceeding to greet her with the
usual kiss when she stopped me.
My heart sank. l had had hard
struggle to get her away from a rival,
and it occurred to me that she had.
after all, discovered she loved him and
didn't love me. However, l withheld
any expression of trepidation and sank
on to the sofa where usually sat. But
tonight instead of sitting so close to
Eva that sheet Of paper could not be
thrust between us l sat on one end or
the sofa, while Eva sat on the other
1t was plain by her expression that
something of Importance weighed on
her mind. l dreaded to hear her speak
the word that should undo all that had
been so delightfully."- done. She had
taken me up into the ''delectable noun
tains," and now she was about to cast
me into a "bOttOmless pit"
Harry" she began, something has
been on my mind ever since we've been
engaged"
What is il ?" faltered.
"YOu know I've always said l
wouldn't marry any but perfectly
pure man."
Il know it, l see it all. You're 60
ing to break our engagement because
I'm not good enough"
Don't go so fast. Often when you
have kissed me l have wondered if
you have ever kissed any one else.
I've thought that it would be better to
ask you and get the matter off my
mind
But supposing 1 have"
''Supposing you have-well, suppos-
ing you have A touch of feminine
curiosity came into her eyes and voice.
"In that case it would depend upon
whom you have Kissed
Il never kiSg and tell
Its not telling; it's cOnfessing."
'But what right would 1 have to tell
that l had kissed a girl?"
'You have only the right to tell me.
No one else, of course"
do you think the girl who has been
kissed would assent to that?'
'She has nothing to do with the mat
ter"
"Humphv'
! This to me was q reductiO ad alb
surdum, but to Eva valid argument
on her side Our relations were be-
coming strained.
do you remember the autumn we
all went nutting?" Eva asked.
Perfectly"
"And how you and Daisy LangdOn
wandered away and sat under the
bridge?'
| did WEI"
"Of course you did. You remember
it well enough. You put your arm
around her waist and kissed her."
"How did you know all this?'
Il happened to be walking toward
| tne Dr1dSe ana saw you.
There was a pause, during which we
sat studying on the important problem
that had come up between us.
| WELL" l said at last, "since you
won't marry man impure enough to
kiss pure girl don't see but that
I'm not immaculate" she said, hang
ing her head.
| s.J'bop univ do 1,o,, nv roof ~ i,,,p,oo,,
late lover?'
Il have long had a confession on my
mind"
make it,
"At that same nutting party
| "Well?"
| AT the moment came upon you and
| Daisy
"WelI?"
| II was walking with-with friend"
You're sure he wasn't lover?"
| "A friend who might or might not be
a lover. When we saw you go away
from under the bridge we went there
ourselves and sat down. Then he
kissed me-"
| All this came hard, but it all came at
last, and l felt that l was safe from
further molestat1On as to my own pee
cadillos. l was a trifle irritated at hav-
Ing had to go through 80 much for so
little and, rising. said coldly:
| $50 l suppose your knowledge-a
knowledge you have had for more than
a year-that l am not perfectly pure
ends all between u.s."
| Il have confessed to an equal sin. II
you will forgive me, l will forgive you"
| "Oh, see 1t all now. Having a sin on
your conscience. you first bring up an
equal one on my part"
Il think you are very unkind."
There is one thing I don't like about
this matter, one thing in which you
have had the advantage Of me. You
know the girl kissed; don't know the
man who kissed you"
us it necessary that should confess
that? No one expects anything of a
man."
But you have expected something Of
| me-"
| Eva patted her foot on the carpet. 81
only Intended to confess my part in the