The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1908-11-21

tell 1t all to and then have him go
away and forget every word! And II
you hadn't come in Id have made you,
If had to go down on my knees to
you! Isn't that shameless? Don't you
guess I'm crazy?'
She had spoken quickly, breathless
ly. as though every moment were OF
out before he should go his travellers
way and leave her. Now as she
stopped short her hand went out and
clung to the chair back, working nerv-
ously.
How old are you?" he said.
How old do you Think"
Thirty"
She laughed again.
Yes. knew you'd guess that.
I'm rs. That's what it's done for me.
used to be pretty. You wouldn't
guess 1t, would you? I was. Look at
my hands-aren't they lovely? And
I've had four years of it-four years.
1t was all right at f1rst-1 liked 1t.
thought 1t would go on always. But
it didn't found 1t out. II anyone
had told me that, three years ago. I'd
have laughed. ] wouldn't have be-
lieved it. But I've found 1t out. He
hasn't. He thinks it's all right still.
And he'll never know It, That's the
funny part. care SO much for him
still that I'd hate to have him find 1t
out, to know it was all big, mad fail
ure. So I've got to stick to 1t. Only
sometimes sometimes
She moved nearer to him, across the
bare floor.
I'm SO glad you came to-day" she
said I'm so glad. Because II you
hadn't I'd have gone crazy. I would
| wanted some one to tell it all to. Do
you know I've gone out and talked to
the cabbages, sometimes. Isn't that
symptom OF insanity? Well, I've
done that, before now. But cabbages
are dumb never knew how dumb
they were before. And you're
stranger-we've never met before and
we never will again, and you can go
right off and forget 1t. Don't think me
fool-I'm not. really. Only. had
to tell some one. Now I'll be better;
We hdu IL a1A Oul anu OSCl, anu NaA
go on for another four years"
you poor little soul" he said.
You poor little soul!"
He put out his hand and for a mo-
ment she clung to 1t.
Yes. that was ito tell some one.
1t just got on my nerves. Because l
never see a soul here-never. never!
get sick for a strange face. Just this
half-hour-hasn't it changed me? Oh,
| know it! Am l the same woman you
met at the gate?"
1t was true; he had seen 1t, even
while she was talking. She led the
way out to the garden.
Look at my arigolds!-aren't
they dears? They grow better than
anything else here. That's the Allen
town road, but I'll walk a little way
with you. I've got to fetch the COW
in before supper time"
He walked beside her, leading his
bicycle. They walked slowly and in
silence. The COW was tethered to a
bush near the roadside.
Il must leave you here" she said
No, it's all right can manage.
And you'll keep straight on. l don't
think there are any turnings."
They shook hands again. And then
it was that the real secret OF the
strange little house, the one thing that
she hadn't told him, rose pitifully and
spoke.
Il shan't see you again." she said
Won't you . kiss me?"
When he looked back, after riding a
little distance, he could see her still,
a lonely blur of pink against the dull
green bushes. And behind her the
cottage, small and square. caught the
light on its shingled roof and white
washed walls. like monument set
in the wilderness to the unknown
god.