The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1906-11-17

| not pretending but nave suffered long
| er ough Let me read your heart
through your eyes; they could not
! lie"
Mo- SHE srilinsIy demurred.
fusr ing in happy bew.lderment and
/ SURPRISE Then reckIessly. she went
on why do you say these things
to ne" Whv do you remind me Of
! CT all | ought to forget?"
Her glorious eyes flashed a chal-
IeIse; then a deathly pallor spread
over her face as she saw that the
woman entering the dining room was
| the one who had come between them.
Neither spoke. Every mans eyes
were riveted on the barbaric beauty
CT the newcomer
Jim. | have been cruel. | knew
this must happen when sent word
- you. | wanted to see with my own
eyes. if you still care for her"
Care for her." he exclaimed, scorn.
hate and fury all compressed in the
three words Kitty, some time
want to tell you how that woman
erept into my life: when you know
al!-and there is nothing you may
not know-perhaps your woman's
heart will pity and forgive
He saw that every nerve was at its
highest tension and her self-control
must soon give way
She followed him without comment.
Kitty, it is not yet 10 o'clock: my
dahabeeyah is tied up a short dis
lance below. would ask a favor Of
you if | had not forfeited the right"
Jim. l know that you want me to
come out on the river. Very we'll, l
will come. | love to do unconven-
tional things occasionally
The clumsy dlabeeyah doomed up
as they neared the river bank
Wildmering gave orders to the dra-
CONAN, and scattered coins among
the crew, as he assisted Kitty on
board and made her comfortable with
many pillows in a coy corner of the
open cabin
When they were we'll on the voy-
age Wildmering threw himself on the
rug beside her, saying:
Five years ago circumstances were
against me; you judged that | Was
unworthy of you, and told me that
had ruined your life; you said you
hoped never to see me again, accusing
me in your inmost heart of shameless
and unthinkable things.
THE best women are always the
most cruel. Before God, Kitty, you
misjudged me. | wanted to make a
clean breast of the whole affair, but
you were cold and unresponsive, and
would hear no explanations; so, know
ing Mcqueen adored you, and think
ing you had grown to despise me.
got out and gave him a chance-it
seemed the only reparation possible.
| went to India; it hurt loved you
so, dear, God only knows the dismal
ness of these past years"
Il never knew never knew" she
walled, shivering nearer to him. II
was not very angry with you, Jim;
Just frightfully jealous, l didn't mean
half l said. was simply desper-
ate-to think that you were learning
to care for someone else. l would
not receive Mcqueen after you had
gone away"
Two strong arms drew her face
down to his until their lips met,
singing hers with the sweetest bliss
she had ever known. Then, drop
ping his arms comfortably about her
waist he said:
''Oh, they understand" Wildmering
answered. Il mentioned at the desk
that you were my wife and that we
dere leaving in the dahabeeyah for
Memphis. also told your maid to
pack whatever was necessary for your
immediate comfort and take it over
to Memphis with her in the machine.
which my man is motoring over early
tomorrow morning. The other bag
gage will be forwarded"
He lowered his eyes to hide their
look of glad triumph as Mrs. Wild
mering accepted the situation with q
laughing exclamation of:
That's just like mans presump-
Tid-Bits.