Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-12-02

Her face burned hotter. She had
an impulse to turn to him and unde-
ceive hlm-to tell him the disgraceful
truth. But what was the truth? Why
had she wished to keep him away
from the two girls7
1t was her entire ignorance Of life
that made it so impossible for her to
understand her own quite primitive
emotions.
ut was clever Of you, too" he chuc-
killed.. "The north cornheld! I'd be
Just as likely to be at the north pole,
wouldn't II?
Kinross was In fact, gratuitously as
sumlng that she had wished to return
his favor to her in having averted her
foster fathers wrath upon finding her
with the forbidden newspaper.
Eunlce was conscious of the fact that,
while IN her heart she felt ashamed OF
what she had done, she was throbbing
with Joy ut having done 1t, for was he
not here alone with her In the summer
evening? She exulted madly IN her
guilt.
II would never have dreamed you
capable, little Eunice, Of such sub
tlety," he went on, and she could feel
| the amusement In his voice. ITO think
of those two poor girls securing that
cornfield in search Of mel And you
| look so harmless!"
He gave short laugh as he put his
| pipe to his lips.
Was he really so glad, she wondered,
at having escaped them? The thought
was followed by an apprehension
which clouded her Joy Of the moment.
II he was 80 fond of being alone, her
own presence here must annoy him,
| but he had come to her. She had not
intruded upon him.
II must 60 indoors now" she sud
denly said, her low sweet voice scarce
| ly above whisper, as she drew back
from the fence.
Must you? What for?" he asked,
and her hungry heart felt or Imagined
& note Of regret in his tone.
II don't have to-lf-if 1t doesn't an
| NOV you for me to be here
Again to Kinross ear that something
! In her speech SO unlike that OF the rest
Of the family! SO arrested was he by
| Ne that for an instant he did not an
swer her question. His silence was
| answer enough for her, and again she
quickly stepped away from the fence.
| "No"-he abruptly stopped her-"you
don't annoy me-"
| He was struck with the absurdity
Of his telling young woman that her
society did not annoy him. He saw
in the dimness how her face lighted
| I'D ut his words, and quick compass
sion stirred him.
"Poor, lonely child" he thought.
But In the same instant he realized
that her sudden radiance was clouded
over by her habitual pensiveness.
"I'm not important enough to-" came
her response In low, sorrowful voice;
"Am II"
He turned and looked ut her. "Now.
Eunice," he asked after an instants
weighing Of 1t, 'just what do you
mean by that?"
"A kitten or poodle would annoy
you more than l, so you don't feel
obliged to dodge about to be rid OF me
as you do of-others--who are more
/ important"
Hello! She had found her voice; she
was become articulate! Was that
note Of bitterness he caught in her
words?
~ will go indoors now" she re-
peated, with melancholy dignity. as
again she drew back from the fence.
/ He had an impulse to urge her to
stay. There was an underlined impress
sion in his mind that he wanted to
question her about herself. But both
the impulse and the impression were
too vague to urge to prompt action,
and before he could clarity them she
was gone.
Eunice meantime, as she sped
across the orchard, was already re-
GREETING passionately that she had LETT
him. If she did not annoy him was
not that enough for her to expect?
WHY had she not remained to drink
in at least the happiness Of being near
him? And what did it matter II to
him her existence was as that OF ny!
"He was speaking to me-to me-and
I came awayv'
She stopped short in her quick walk
and half turned to 60 back. Her eyes
fell upon two figures just coming into
the orchard and walking toward the
spring house. They were the young la
dies, and they had spied Pete where
be still stood by the fence. Daisy's
ripping, shallow laughter foated to
her on the quiet evening air. She
stood still and watched. Would DR..
Kinross go away when he heard them
coming? Yes, he was moving OF,
though escape was not very easy. She
heard Daisy call out to him to stop
him. She saw him hesitate, then turn
back and wait. Daisy ran up to him
and caught hold of his shirt sleeve.
Georgiana followed with slow, stately
grace.
Presently the three Of them went
across the orchard together toward the
lane that led to the hill. Were they
going to climb the hill together? The
sunset view from there was very fine.
1t was the one spot in all the region
that was dear to her, because here, in
solitude, she had known some hours
of peace and even Of happiness, and
the place had come to seem to her he.
very own. And now those girls were
going there with him-to her hill.
{V,t1 In oh "A