Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1908-04-17

an wamaa pTrant wac believe W tne
influence at their sex individually anu
collectively, she began wrong Dy seli'
ing him Of her engagement perhaps u
emphasize her pure disinterestedness
in q crusade for principle only.
So It was when she was most eio-
quent, most earnestly inspired-nay'
In the very midst of plea for sweet
ness and light and simple lifing-tha'
his reasonings found voice In the ma
terial comment:
81 never imagined you were en-
gagedT
"Of course you didn't. You'd known
me for about three hours-there on the
cliff
"But-Quarrier'-
Over his youthful face q sullen snaa-
ow had fallen-ficLering not yet set
tied. He would not for anything OIL
earth have talked freely to tine woman
destined to be Quarters wife. lie
had talked too much anyway. Some
thing In her, something about her. had
loosened his tongue. He had made a
plain ass Of himself. that was ALA
garrulous ass. And truly 1t seemed
that the girl beside him. even In the
starlight, could follow and divine what
;Ie had scarcely expressed to himself
or her instincts had taken shorter
cut to forestall his own conclusion.
Don't think the things you are
thinkingw she said In a herce iittie
voice. leaning toward him.
"what do you mean% he asked,
taken aback
"You know! Don't! 1t Is unfair-n
isis faithless-to me. am your
friend. Why not? Does 1t make any
difference to you whom marry! Ii
such friendship as ours Is to become
worth anything to you-to newly
should it trouble you that know ana
am thinking of thinrs that concern
Won? Is it because the confidence IS
one sided? Is 1t because you have
given and | have listened and given
nothing in return to balance The ac'
countf do give Interestingly inter
est, sympathy If you ask 1T; give
confidence in return If you desire It.
"What can girl like you need or
sympathy" he said,. smiling.
"You don't know, you don't know.
If heredity is dark vista and II you
must stare through 1t all your lire,
sword in hand, always on your guard
do YOU think you are the only one|
"Ara you-one?" he said incredu-
lousy
yes" with an Involuntary shudder,
mot that way. 1t is easier for me.
think 1t Is. l know 1t is. But there
are things to- combat-impulses. a
recklessness, perhaps something al
most ruthless. What else | do NOT
know, for have never experienced
violent emotions Of any sort-neyer
even deep emotion"
"YOu are in love"
"Yes, thoroughly" she added, with
conviction, "but not violently. r.
She hesitated, stopped short, leaning
forward, peering at him through the
dusk. and, "Mr. Siward, are you
laughing" She rose, and he stood UP
instantly.
There was lightning In her dark eyes
now; in his something that glimmered
and danced. She watched 1t. fascinat'
ed. Then of sudden the storm broke,
and they were both laughing convul'
sively, face to face, there under the
stars.
"NIr. Siward," she breathed. 81 don't
know what | am laughing at, do you
You-you infer that am either not
In love or incapable of 1t or too igno-
rant of it to know what I'm talking
about. That, Mr.. Siward, Is what you
have done to me tonight"
Tim sorry
"Are your
81 ought to be anyway" he said.
It was unfortunate. An utterly In
excusable laughter seemed to bewitch
them, lowering always close to his lips
and hers.
"How can you laugh" she said
"How dare you! I don't care for you
nearly as violently as did, MIR. 81
ward. A friendship between us would
not he at all good for me. Things pass
too swiftly-too intimately. There Is
too much mockery in YOU She ceas
ed suddenly, watching the sombcr al
teration of his face, and. "Haye hur'
your she asked penitently.
mo"
"Have l., Mr.. Siward? l did moi
mean It." The attitude, the words
slackening to trailing sweetness. ano
then the moments silence stirred MIN.
"Tm rather ignorant myself OF VIC
lent emotion. suspect normal people
are. AS for our friendship. we'll d(
the best we can for it, no matter wha
| occurs" he added, thinking of Quar-
rier. and, thinking of him, glanced W
to see him within earshot and moving
straight toward them from the veran
da above.
There was short silence, tenta
tive civil word from Siward, ther
Miss lands took command OF some
thing that had grotesque resem
blance to a situation. A few minute:
later they returned slowly to thu
house, the girl walking serenely be
tween Siward and her preoccupied all
anced.
"If your shoes are as. wet as my
skirts and slippers you had better
change, Mr.. Siward." she said. paus
ing at the foot of the staircase.
So he took his congee, leaving bel
standing there with Quarter an(