Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-03-01
[Origlnal.l

II 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 I usually sat. But
tonight instead Of sitting SO close to
Eva that a sheet of paper could not be
thrust between us l sat on one end Of
the sofa, while Eva sat on the other.
1t was plain by her expression that
something of Importance weighed on
her mind. / 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 pitt
Harry" she began, something has
been on my mind ever since we've been
engaged"
"What is IT," l faltered.
"You know I've always said I
wouldn't marry any but a perfectly
pure man."
81 know it. 1 see it all. You're go
ing to break our engagement because
LIN no good enough"
Don't so so fast. Often when you
have kissed me I have wondered if
you have Y kissed any n else.
I've thought that it would be better to
ask you and get the matter off my
| mind"
"But surprising l 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"
II never kiss and tell"
cts not telling; it's confessing."
"But what right would 1 have to tell
that l had kissed a grip"
"You have only the right to tell me.
No 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
"Humph!'
This to me was a reductio ad alb
surdum, but to Eva a valid argument
on her side. Our relations were be-
coming strained.
"Do you remember the autumn we
all went nutting| Eva asked.
"Perfectly.h
"And how you and Daisy Langdon
wandered away and sat under the
bridge"
"Did we""
"Of course you did. You remember
it we'll enough. You put your arm
around her waist and kissed her."
GLOW did you know all this?'
81 happened to be walking toward
the bridge and say you"
There was 4 pause, during which we
sat studying on the important problem
that had come up between us.
"Wcll," l said at last, 'since you
won't marry a man impure enough to
kiss a pure girl 1 don't see but that
"I'm not immaculate" she said, hang
ing her head.
"Then why do you expect an immacu-
late loyer?'
81 have long had a confession on my
mind"
snake it,"
AT that same nutting party
"Well?"
cat the moment l came upon you and
| Daisy
"Wcll:"
II was walking with-with a friend"
you're IRE he wasn't a lover2"
"a friend who might or might not be
1 q lawn. Vyho~ 1yn Y M q ryox,
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 molestation as to my w pee
cadillos. l was a trifc irritated at hav-
ing had to go through so 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 us"
81 have confessed TO an equal sin. If
you will forgive me. l will forgive you"
"Oh. l see it all now. Having a sin on
your conscience. YOU first bring up an
equal IN on my part
81 think YOU are very unkind."
"There is one thing don't like about
this matter. one thing in which you
have had the advantage Of me. You
know the girl I kissed: l don't know the
man who kissed YOU" .t.<
as 1t necessary that I should confess
that? No one expects anything of n
man"
but you have expected something Of
me-"
Eva patted her foot III the carpet. II
only intended to confess my part In the
matter" she said.
at has not been necessary that YOU
should confess anything. You did 1t to
eusr your conscience, not at any re-
quest from me
Here occurred the only effective nrgu-
mcnt in thls mild blow ON n mill pond,
n tear that ! saw %gliatrning In EVhs
ave. The episode WAS closed,
That uIrl,t oy"rstnyrl my limit nm
Il