The Falls City tribune., 1909-03-12

my esteem BY sueh references 10 MIR.
Blake.
AVE- ave. that Blabe!1 painted Win.
thrope. Don't yon see It's i'm. an
that blossom, Ven Il mans dahy-
Wen rs in love-
Mis-. Leslie burst luto a nervous
LAUGH. but checked herself on the in
slant.
Really, Mr.. Winthrope,' she ex-
claimed, You must pardon me. Il
never knew that cultured Euglishmen
ever dropped their rs. Is il happens.
YOU know. / never saw one excited be
fore this"
All. yes. 10 be sure-to be sure
murmured Winthrope. in an odd tone.
The girl threw oal her hand in a lit.
lie gesture of protest.
Really. I'm sorry 10 have hurt-to
have been SO thoughtless,'
Winthrope stood silent. She spoke
again. I'll do what you ask. III
make allowances for your-for your
feelings towards ME and try to forget
AL you said the other day. Let me
begin by asking a favor OF you"
"Ah. Miss Geneyieve, anything, 10 be
sure, that | may do"
1T is that | wish your opinion. When
Mr.. Blake finished that absurd door
last evening, he would not tell me why
he had built it-only a vague state
ment about my safety"
All, He did not go into particu-
lars" drawled Winthrope.
No. not even a hint; and he looked
so-odd."
Winthrope slowly rubbed his soft
palms one upon the other.
DO you-er-really desire to know
his-the motive which actuated him.
he murmured.
Il should not have mentioned it to
you if | did not she answered.
"Well-er-n lie hesitated and
paused for a full minute. You see.
it is a rather difficult undertaking to
intimate such a matter to a lady
just the right touch of %delicacy, you
know. But | will begin by explaining
that have known il since the first
known what"
"Of that bound-of-er-Blake's
trouble"
Trouble o.
"Ah, Perhaps | should have said
affection; yes, that is the better word.
To own the truth, the fellow has some
good qualities. 1t was no doubt be
cause he realized, when in his better
moments"
Better Moments Mr.. Winthrope, |
am not IA child. In justice both To my
self and to Mr.. Blake, | must ask you
to speak out plainly
My lear Miss Leslie, may | first ask
if you have not observed how strange
" at times the fellow acts-looks odd,
as you put it-how he falls into mel
ancholia or senseless RACES? | may
truthfully state that he has three
times threatened my life
Electromagnetic anger quite natural,
after | had so rudely-and so many
people are given to brooding- But
il he was violent TO you
MY dear Miss Geneyieye, ! hold
nothing against the miserable fellow.
At such times he is not-er-respon-
sible. you know. Let us give the fell
low full credit-that is why he himself
built your door"
ooh, but | can't believe it. l can't
believe it," cried the girl. ITS not
possible! Hes 50 strong. SO true and
manly, so kind, for all his ~gruffness!'
"Ah. my dear" soothed WINTHROP,
chat is the pity OF it. But when a
man must needs be his worst enemy,
when he must needs lead a certain
kind of life, he must take the conse-
quences, To put 1t as delicately as
possible, yet explain all, | need only
say one word-paranoia,"
Miss Leslie gathered up her days
outfit with trembling fingers and went
to mount the cliff.
After waiting a lew minutes Win
thrope walked %hurfiedly through the
cleft and climbed the tree-ladder with
an agility that would have amazed his
companions. But he did not draw
himself up on the cliff, Having salts
fed himself that Miss Leslie was well
out toward the signal, he returned to
the baobab and proceeded to examine
Blake's door with minute scrutiny.
That evening, shortly before dark,
Blake came in almost exhausted by his
journey. Few men could have COW
cred the same ground in twice The
time. 1t had been n continuous
round of grass jungle, thorn scrub,
rocks and swamp. And for all his
4~fR1ssT
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