The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1906-06-07
His eyes rested upon the soft out

she said, "whei..,r he came or went.
1t wearied me to be with him, and l
was very selfish When he kissed me
it left me cold"
His gaze stung her sharply "And if
you loved some one" he said, sit would
make great difference to you whether
he came or went? 1t would gladden.
you to be with him. and when he
kissed you it would not leave yor
cold?''
IL think so," she answered.
He bent toward her swiftly, then
checked himself, with a sneering laugh.
"I'll give you a piece of valuable adj
vice." he said. Don't allow yourself
to grow sentimental. 1t is awful rot"
And he threw himself into his chair.
He drew notebook from his pocket,
and when she seated herself he did not
look up. There was a gray cast about
his face, and his lips We're compressed.
She noticed that he was older than she
at first supposed and that the hand
with which he held the pencil twtched
nervously; then she lay watching him
idly from beneath lowered lids.
An hour later he looked up, and their
chances met With sudden determine
ton he closed the book and replaced it
in his pocket you look pale" he re-
marked abruptly.
do II" she questioned inanimatedly.
II do not see any reason why I should
not"
perhaps. so long as it is not unbe-
coming to you"
"Why will you say such things?" she
demanded angrily. 81 detest them"
Indeed? Yes, pallor is not unbe-
coming to you. 1t gives you an inter
esting look"
She rubbed the cheek next him With
the edge of her rug until it glowed
scarlet 'Therev she exclaimed in re
sentiment.
''That gives you a radiant look" he
remarked composedly.
Her eyes flashed. "You will make
me hate you," she retorted.
He smiled slightly. his eyes half sad
Il am trying to-" he responded.
She stamped her foot with impa-
tience "Then you won't succeed.
will not hate you. Do you hear?
will not'
"Is it a question of will?"
''In this case, yes"
"Do you hate as you choose-and
love?' he asked.
II don't know she replied 81 hard
ly think could hate you if would,
despite your-your hatefulness."
Not though it We're a part of wis
dom?"
''Wisdc'n has nothing to do with
''With what?" he questioned.
with hate"
"Nor with love?"
"Nor with love-"
He shook himself free from an mag
mary weight, passing his hand across
his contracted brow. "Then so much
the worse for hate,' he responded,
"and for love-"
AS she did not answer he spoke fierce
ly. when you love, love virtuous,
straightaway plodder," he said. "Love
man because he is decent-because
he is decent and plain and all the
things that the romancers laugh at.
Love fool, ii you will, but let him be
fool who goes to his Office at 8 and
leaves it at 6; who Graves no more
exciting atmosphere than the domestic
one Of house girl worries and teething
babies If you ever find yourself low
ing a man like me, you had better
make for the nearest lamp post and
hang
Hush she cried. her cheeks fam
ing. "How-how dare you?" Her
voice broke sharply, and she fell to
sobbing behind her raised hands.
''My God!" he said softly She fell
his breath upon her forehead, and &
tremor passed over her. Then his
hands fastened upon hers and drew
them from her eyes. He was painting
like man who has run race.
She was looking straight before her
A small homing bird alighted for ;
swift instant on the railing near them
scanning suspiciously the deserted cor
per, and she knew that that bird would
be blazoned on her memory forever
after. Then she felt the mans lip!
close upon her own.
you shall love me-" he said, "ant
right be damned!'
She stepped out upon the deck, he
eyes shining. He met her modify
''Shall we walk up into the bow?" HI
asked.
She nodded. 'This is our last even
ing" she said. 1--WE will make
long"
However long we make it, there Il
always tomorrow"
Her face clouded "Yes, there is to
morrow" she admitted.
She fell into step with him. and the!
walked the length of the deck. One
she lost her balance, and he laid hi
hand upon her arm. When she recov
cred herself he did not remove 1t.
I'VE will go far up" she said. "W
will look straight out to sea and for
get what Is behind u.s."
Can we forget it?" he asked gloom