The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1908-06-03

do you begin to understand
ooh, I've always understood that
you were spoiled. I'm partly guilty OF
the spelling process too. Listen. I'll
walk with you a little way"-she
looked at hlm-"a little way" she con-
tlnued gently; then must go. There
Is only a caretaker In our house, and
Leila will be furious If leave her all
alone. Besides, we're going to dine
there, and 1t won't be very gay If
don't give few orders first"
"But you brought your maid"
Naturally"
"Then telephone her that you and
Leila are dining out"
Where, silly2 Do you want us to
dine somewhere with your
want you? You've got tor
stephen, 1t isn't best"
at is best"
She turned to him impulsively. ooh
do want to so much Do you think
might? 1t is perfectly delicious to
see you again. I-you have no idea
"Yes, have" he said sternly.
They turned walking past the foun-
tain toward Fifth avenue again. Fur
lively she glanced at his hands, with
the city pallor on them, as they grasp
ed the crossbars of the crutches, then
looked up at his worn face. He was
much thinner but now in the softly
fading light the shadows under the
eyes and cheek bones seemed less
sh - 60 hox~fcI,.
the contour of head and shoulders, the
short, crisp hair were as she remem-
bered, and the old charm held her
the old fascination grew, tightening
her throat, stealing through every vein.
stirring her pulses, awakening imper-
reptibly once more the best in her.
There is no use" she said under her
breath. Il can't go back to Leila.
Stephen the dreadful part of it is that
! IL wish she were i'm Jericho! | wish
the whole world were in Ballyhoo and
you and | alone once morew
Under their gay laughter quivered
the undertOne Of excitement. Sylvia
said:
I'D like to talk to you all alone. 1t
won't do. of course. But l may say
what I'd like, mayn't |? What time
is it? If I'm dining with you we've
got to have Leila for conventions sake
IL not from motives of sheer decency,
which you and l seem to lack. Ste
phen."
I'VE lack decency," said Siward,
'and we're proud Of it. As for Leila,
I'm going to arrange for her very sim
ply, but very beautifully. Plank will
take care of her. Sylvia, there's not a
soul in, town. and we can be as impru-
lent as we please"
"No, we can't. Agatha'S at the Santa
Regina. She came down with us"
But we are not going to dine at the
Santa Regina. We're going where
Agatha wouldn't intrude her colOrless
nose-to a thoroughly questionable
and selectly common resort overlook
ing the classic Harlem, and we're go
ing to whiz thither in Plank's car and
remain thither until you yawn for mer-
cy, whence we will return thence
stephen. you silly! I'm perfectly
mad to go with your Then with sud
den self reprOach and quick soicitude:
Am l making you walk too far?
Wouldn't you like to go in nOw?'
"No, I'm not tired. I'm millions of
years younger, and I'm as strong as
the nine gods of your friend Porsena.
Besides, haven't l waited for this =
And under his breath fiercely, Haven't
/ waitedr' he repeated, turning on her.
"DO-do you mean that as re-
prOach?" she asked, lowering her eyes.
NO. knew you would not come on
the first sunny day"
why did you think l would not
come? Did you know me for the cow
ard l amp
Il did not think you would come"
he repeated, hating to rest on his
crutches. He stood, balanced, staring
dreamily into the dim perspective, and
again her fascinated eyes yentured to
rest on the worn white face, listless,
sOmber in its fixedness.
The tears were very near her eyes;
the spasm in her throat checked
speech. At length she stammered, Il
ulu not come D-DecduSe Simply
couldn't stand it,"
His face cleared as he turned quiet
ly. Child, you must not confuse mat
ters. You must not think Of being sOr-
ry for me. The old order is passing
ticking away on every clock in the
world All that inverted order Of
things is being reversed. You don't
know what mean, do you? All, well,
you will know when grow into some
thing of what you think you remem-
Der In me and when l grow out of
what / really was"
Truly l don't understand, Stephen.
But then-I am out Of training since
you went-went out of things. Have
l changed? Do 1 seem more dull? |
1T has not been very gay with me.
1 don't see-looking back across all the
noise, all the chaos Of the winter do
not see how l stood 1t alone"
"Alone"
"N-not seeing yOu-sometimes."