Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1908-02-14

that somebody had asked him to-per
haps herself. That was well. She
needed TO breathe. to summon strength
and common sense. find out what had
been done. what reasOnless madness
she had committed IN the half light ot
TIE silver stemmed trees clustering In
shameful witness an every hand
Suddenly the bot humiliation OF It
overwhelmed her. and she covered her
face with her hands. standing. almost
swaylng. as wave on wave of inrrcdu'
lous shame seemed 10 sweep her from
knee To brow. That phase passed after
awhile. Out of il she emerged flushed
outwardly composed. into another
phase. In full self possession once
more. able TO understand what had
happened without the dlsprOportion OF
emotional exaggeration. After all. she
had only been kissed. Resides, she
was a novice. which probably account
ed In measure for the unreasonable
emotion coincident with caress to
which she was unaccustomcd. With
out looking up AT him she found herself
saying coolly enough TO surprise her
self: II never supposed | was capable
OF that. Ii appears that ] am. !
haven't anything TO say for myself eN-
cept that ! feel fearfully Inundated.
Don't say anything now. do not
blame you: truly do not 1t was con.
temptible of me-to do it-wearinG
this She stretched out her slender
left hand not looking at him. at was
contemptlbie!" She slowly raised her
eyes, summoning all her courage TO
face him.
But be only saw In the pink confn-
sion of her lovely face the dawnlng
challenge of coquette salutlng her al.
versary in gay acknowledgment of his
fleeting moment of success. And as
his face fell. then hardened into
brightness. instantly she OWNED how
he rated her and In a fash realized her
weapons and her security and that the
control of the situation WAS hers. not
man who stood so silently considering
her. Strange that she should he
! ashamed Of her own innocence. willing
| that he believe her accomplished in
such arts. enchanted that he no longer
perhaps suspected genuine emotion in
the swift, confused sweetness Of heI
| first kiss.
"Why do you take 1t SO seriouslyT'
she said, laughing and studying him
certain now of herself In this new dis
guise
do you take 1t lightlyf" he asked
striving TO smile.
Il? AS | must. you know. You
don't expect to marry me. do you, Mr.
Siward?"
"I'- He choked up at that grimly
for awhile.
Walking slowly forward together she
fell into step frankly beside him, nea
him-too near TRY TO be sensible.
she was saying gayy. Il like You ST
much, and 1t would lie horrid to have
you NOPE. you know. And. besides
even If | cared for you there are rea
sous, you know for any CIR
to marry the man am going to mar
~. SO, you see. could not MARI.
you even if I"-her voice was incliue'
to trembIe. hut she controlled 1t
would she never learn her rolef-
'even IF loved you"
Then her tongue stumbled and wa
silent and they walked on side b.
side through the fading splendor OF tn
year. exchanging no further speech.
Toward sunset their guide halle
them. standing high among the rocks
n silhouette against the sky. And he
yond him they saw the poles crowne
with the huge nests of the tishha wk'
marking the last rendezvous at Ospre
! Iedpp