Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1906-11-30
9y AANID GhAE4AN PHIL LIPS. Auz6or of "ZHEOQTS6,

"ShaIl | go with you to your sit
ting-room!" i went on. Perhaps
the cigar smoke here"
No, no." she interrupted; Il don't
really mind cigars-and the windows
are wide open. Besides, I came for
only. a moment-just to say"
As she cast about for words to carry
her on. drew up a chair for her.
She looked at 1t uncertainty, seated
herself. when mamma was here
this afternoon" she went on, she
was urging me to-to do what she
wished And after she had used sew
eral arguments, she said something |
I've been thinking it over, and it
seemed | ought in fairness to tell
you"
waited. ,
she said: In a few days more he
that meant you-'he will be ruined.
He imagines the worst is over for
him. when in fact they've only be-
gum"
They! repeated. who are
they? The Langdons?"
Il think So" she replied with an
effort. She did not say-I've told
you her exact words-as far as can"
well" said |, "and why didn't you
go?"
She pressed her lips firmly together.
Finally, with straight look into my
eyes, she replied: 81 shall not dis
euss that You probably misunder-
stand, but that is your own affair"
- You believed what she said about
me, of course" said l.
Il neither believed nor disbelieved."
she. answered indifferently, as she
rose to go. 1T does not interest me-"
Come here" said |.
. waited until she reluctantly Joined
me at the window. | pointed to the
steeple of the church across the way.
You could as easily throw down that
''steeple by pushing against it with
your bare hanGs, | said to her, las
they, whoever they are, could put me
down. They might take away nv
money. But if they did, they would
only be giving me lesson that would
teach me how more easily to get it
back. | am not bundle of stock GER
uhcates or a bag of money. | am
here" and tapped my forehead.
She forced a faint, scornful smile
she did not. wish me to see her be-
lief of what / said.
You may think that is vanity" |
went on. But will learn, sooner or
later. the difference between boasting
and simple statement of fact. You
will learn that | do not boast What
said Is no more boast than for a
man with legs to say, I can walk
Because you have known only leg
less men. you exaggerate the diff
Guilty of'walking. It's as easy for me
to make money as it is for some peo-
pie to spend it."
1t Is hardly necessary for me to say
was not insinuating anything
against her people. But she was Just
then supersensitive on the subject
though | did not suspect It. She
flushed holly. you will not have any
cause to sheer at my people on that
account hereafter" she said. q set
tied that to-day"
.. 81 was not .sneering at them" pro.
tested. Il wasn't even thinking of
them. And-you must know that it's
a favor to me for anybody to- ask me
to do anything that will please you
Anita!" %
She made gesture of Impotence
1 see Ia better tell you why | did
not go with them to-day. | insisted
that they give back all they. have
taken from you. And when they re
fused. I refused to 60"
Il don't care why you refused, OF
imagined you refused" said |. 81 am
content with the fact that you are
here.
But you misunderstood it." she an
s>fered coldly.
Il don't understand 1t, don't mis-
understand it." was my reply. II &C
c.pt' It"
/ She turned away from the window
Al lifted out of the room-you. who