The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-11-23

charm, a charm whose essence he felt
rather than knew lay not in mere
correctness of outline, nor yet in the
softness and sweetness of the flesh
though she possessed all that. but in
certain secret fire whose flame
burned steadily and purely. Then his
gaze faltered and turned abruptly
away.i Hla tf}ltt.tb.,
"I,may as well tell you at once he
said why I asked you to come here,
or course. you knew that could not
say good-by like that--to you y
She did not attempt to evade, domiz
mated as she was by his will for the
instant A.
Yes, she answered. with lowered
eyelids, ~ knew-I understood"
81 had already said good-by to
you" he persisted, ito you with all
the rest. But this. surely you know
that this must be something alto
gether different"
She raised her eyes to his. Are
you telling me again that you love
sue dShtu EIdNtlNs
Her glance went to his head like
wine, and his expression took on the
old recklessness that seemed to
change him back into a boy again
the silent, sullen boy who had van
ished momentarily.
"Pm just fool about you" he de-
clared low under his breath as his
gaze dived deep into hers, and his
face grew white and set. -.
i A tender smile chased the shadow
that had fallen across her features,
as the familiar phrase, heard for the
hundredth time or more, fell upon her
ears She sat thoughtfulfy stroking
her smooth white arm, bare below the
elbow, and her face had grown very
sweet and gentle All at once she
leaned toward himJl 10 o.. .#Gs
Dear" she said, softly, dear how
can hope that you will ever forgive
me?"
He started. Forgiven"
"Yes-forgive. | am so sorry, so
truly, truly sorry. Oh, wish, wish
that 1t might have been you!'
There was a wild pain in her voice,
and her face was frightened and
pleading. Some sudden shock of
realization as she looked at him
seemed to fill her with a sort of ter
ror She stretched out both her
hands to him. and she was trembling
visibly
But he did not take her hands He
only stared mutely at her plunged in
a helpless agony of confusion that
made any sort of speech an utter i'm
possibility for the instant.
'TWould you mind telling me just
what you mean by that?" he asked
presently. formulating the words
slowly, and as If every one cost him
his powers to the utmost. A mois-
ture had gathered on his brow. and
the hand on the arm of his chair
suddenly frightened.
She leaned forward again and laid
one hand timidly on his knee.
Dudley" she whispered, Dudley"
An awed light leaped into his eyes.
1t was the first time she had ever
called him by his name, and the
boys pure soul, as II divinely sum-
moned, seemed suddenly to stand be-
fore her. naked and unashamed. and
sternly demanding that she also
should lift the veil.
Her own soul rose with dignity and
in infinite compassion to meet that
challenge. There was a long silence,
and then, all at once he drew back
from the look in her eyes as II she
had stabbed him. For he knew II
was in pity and not in love that she
had broken down the barrier of con-
ventionality between them. which
had held him at a distance. and
which until now had kept her, safely
panoplied against his ardor.ir. ....,
II think | ought to tell you. dear,
that IL almost loved you she said.
Il think would have done 1t quite
If there was not-some one else"
His face was hard and terrible as
he drew back rudely from her, but
the cry that broke from him was like
"a sob '.'." ".' ..'a..'.
"Then you have been trining with
me?' ..y t.. .."' '. "'.
Her whole frame quivered proudly,
like one of Dudley's thoroughbreds
under the cut of whip. The color
famed into her cheeks
"Trihing! No!-a thousand times
no. Blame me. thing of me with
whatever contempt you must, but
spare me that"
For a moment he kept his face
turned away. Then he rose and be-
gan to move restlessly up and down
the narrow path, the slim gray figure
and bowed head making a mute ap-
peal that touched her as no speech
could have done.
Poor dear, poor boy!" she kept
saying over and over to herself. But
suddenly she caugE herself up with
a start Those were the words. pre-
cisely the same words she had be-
slowed upon that other one when
reading the love letters, Her heart
stood still at the realization. and the
color slowly faded out OF her cheeks