The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1908-02-05

W llS Wv hCCP
She found herself ogy
WAS l in any
actual danger?' she asked curiously.
81 think not But it was too much
responsibility for me-"
II see. Any time | wish to break
my neck | am to please do it alone in
future"
Exactly - if you don't mind" he
said, smiling.
They turned, shoulder to shoulder,
walking bark through the drenched
heritage.
That" size said impulsively, sis not
what l said few moments ago to a
woman"
what did you say a few moments
ago to a wOman?"
II said, Mr.. Siward, that l would
not leave IA certain man to go to
the devil alOner
do you know any man who is go
ing to the devil?"
do you?" she asked, letting herself
go swinging out upon a tide of intima-
cy she had never dreamed of risking,
nor had she the slightest idea whittier
the current would carry her.
They had stopped on the lawn, ankle
deep in wet grass, the stars overhead
sparkling magnificently and in theiI
ears the outcrash of the sea.
you mean me-" he concluded.
do II"
He looked up into the lovely face
Her eyes were very sweet, very clear
clear with excitement, butvery friendly
Let us sit here on the steps little
while. will you?" she asked.
SO he found a place beside her one
step lower, and she leaned forward,
elbows on knees, rounded white chin
in her palms, the starlight giving her
bare arms and shoulders a marble lus-
ter and tinting her eyes a deeper
amethyst.
And now, innOcently untethered, mis-
sion and all, she laid her heart quite
bare-One chapter of it. And, like 9th
er women Grant who believe in the
influence of their sex individually anG
NOAACNliNCigg SnC bCBdu MlOnS ny lell
ing him of her engagement perhaps tC
emphasize her pure disinterestedness
in a crusade for principle only.
So it was when she was most elo-
Quent, most earnestly inspired-nay
in the very midst of a plea for sweet
ness and light and simple living-that
his reasonings found voice in the ma
terial comment:
Il never imagined you were en-
gagged"
"Of course you didn't. You'd known
me for about three hours-there on the
Cliff
"But-Quarrier''-
Over his youthful face a sullen shad-
ow had Acknowledging, not yet set
tied. He would not for anything on
earth have talked freely to the woman
destined to be Quarters wife. He
had talked 90 much anyway. Some
thing in her. something about her, had
loosened his tongue. He had made
plain ass of himself, that was ala
garrulous ass. And truly it seemed
that the girl beside him, even In tn
starlight, could follow and divine what
he had scarcely expressed to himself
or her instincts had taken a shorter
cut to forestall his own conclusion.
Don't think the things you are
thinking" she said in a fierce little
voice, leaning toward him.
What do you meanY he asked,
fakan a baoE
you know! Don't! 1t is unfair-it
isis faithless-to me. / am your
friend. Why not? Does 1t make any
difference 10 you whom l marry? II
such friendship as ours is to become
worth anything to you-to newly
should 1t trouble you that l know and
am thinking of things that concern
you? Is 1t because the confidence is
one sided? Is 1t because you have
given and | have listened and given
count? l do give Interestingly inter
est, sympathy if you ask 1t; give
confidence in return If you desire it,
what can a girl like you need OF
sympathy" he said, smiling.
you don't know, you don't know!
If heredity is a dark vista and If you
must stare through 1t all your life
sword in hand, always on your guard.
do you think you are the only one?"
"Are you-oner he said incredu-
lousy.
yes" with an involuntary shudder,
mot that way. 1t is easier for me. |
think 1t is. l know it is. But there
are things to combat-impulses. a
recklessness, perhaps something al
most ruthless. What else / do not
know, for l have never experienced
violent emotions of any sort-never
even deep emotion"
you are in lover
Eyes, 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.