The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-03-13

the horses head with skilful turn to avoid an
obstacle in their headlong career. she could have
shouted in exutaton.
Give me those rens."
She did not recognize the voice at ALL so hercely
resentful was il, the angry eyes into which she
looked. For instant she had forgotten that she
was not alone with the horse. The bay still
bounding and quvering but Enthusiastically vanquish-
ed. and Elizabeth handed the reins over to Paul
without word.
Indeed she could not think of a word to say. II
the affair had been complicated before. where were
they now she asked herslf Paul breathed heavily
for time, evidently not trusting himself speak.
Then he began severely. IF you-of course you don't
realize what very, very foolish thing that to
do but il you knew very little more about horses
you'd"
a little more about horses! When know \ thou
sand times more than"
sudden realization that the incident meant more
than dispute driving. upon her startling
ly. 1t flashed through her mind that It every
thing-meant that she physically couldn't keep 1t
up and that vision almost drove out Of her memory
the affair OF the runaway All that she had been
suppressing the last fortnight boiled in inco-
herent words
"Oh, know 1t awful manners. but I'm not sor-
ry-I cant be. 1t has saved melt has saved you.
1t has opened my eyes! I can't keep II up-nothing
in the world 10 worth having to pretend all your
life! I'm not helpless and DEPENDENT hate II.
I'd rather do anything than pretend to be-even to
please you. II you can't like me the way am-if
such"
She excited that she did not know what
she was saying. The man cut her short with. In
Heavens name what you talking about?" The
anger In his face erased by . blankness that
amounted to stupefaction. Before this entirely i'm.
personal and stern visase. Elizabeth suddenly
aware Of the immense distance which separated
them from the sentimental crisis of q few moments
before. Her overstrained nerves gave way a. never
before in her life She began to very violently
H. rrS0 Nhfl
But through her sobs she began bravely To
explain The big bay. tired and broken. had settled
down to = sleepy walk before she had ALTERED
through her miserable and endless story. She did
not spare herself she did not try to appeal to his
pity, and she ended. "Oh. I've been horrible ali
through! I've deceived you with every word rye
said till now. There isn't . thing I've pretended l
couldn't do and you've helped with. that l can't
do well-and like to. and like to-" Her last words
were spoken denantly and she faced him with
flash Of spirit In her unhappy eyes.
1t was the first time she had looked 1t him since
she began to talk. and her heart sank to see how
white and severe he looked. Good Heavens." he
Heavens!" 1t seemed to her that he was moved to
an emotion she did not understand. though her
confession had had some singular effect him quite
different from what she imagined
well. now at least you know the worst Of me-"
she said. desperately. to break the silence.
He reused himself from his stupor Of amaxemeut.
Eyes. know the worst of you" he said uncomprom-
asingy; but you don't begin to know the worst of
nor what might have been the horrible of
the whole thing. Lord Almighty" he fen again into
calculations. Lord Almighty! What escape we've
had! 1t makes sick to think Of Il! Look here
its the last thing . would usually tell woman.
and its awfully discreditable to mebut you've been
honest-we're striking bed rock-you ought to know.
Just before the horse away-you remember,
had said"
He hesitated. flushed and ashamed
Yes. remember" the girl prompted him softly.
We'll. the only possible excuse have 10 that I've
been fighting with all my might to keep from falling
in love with you-with the girl thought you were"
He drew = long breath and summoned MI his resolu-
ton to go on. "Oh you can't understand what ter
ror I've always had Of losing my head BRAIN
less pretty. childish. helpless girl. and having
hang like . milestone all my life. I've seen
70 much Of that sort Of inferno In the life Of my
friends. Well thought this time I had done It I
couldn't stop myself before had said-but latter
I'd said that much felt It would mean lifelong mis-.
cry II 1 went on"
looked 90 blank that Paul hurried to have the
wretched thing over. Il going to hack OUT" He
brought it out finally with the honest bluntness Of
despair. Il was going to sneak out By the low.
meant pretext that hadn't really proposed Can
you ever respect \ man who had meant to do such
a thing?"
The two faced each other. tragic In the deathIy
seriousness with which youth takes itself
The girl spoke hrst You say you don't like that
kind Of girl?"
Good Lord NO! No sane man does What under
the sun II there to like about having TO prevent q
woman from making fool OF fersek every time
she trcs 20 do any"
S0e uafe0 up n MIN IN IN Unreasonable anger.
Her heat showed the immensfty Of her relief Then
why in Heavens name did yoa prsteoA you did!"
He answered quite simply. why. because that
was the kind of girl you seemed to bes"
Elizabeth cried out upon him. But was only
trying to please you!"
For . moment neither Of them took In the extreme
significance Of these Confessions. They looked
speechess into each Others bewildered eyes Then,
"Oh. my dear" cried the man. don't you go what
has happened! It means we've fallen In love with
each other ~ never two people BEFORE that care
for each other a We really are. not, not n we've
seemed"
How do We know what really are IL we've
done nothing but lie each other." asked The gtri
with IN impatient selfscorn-
He was mistaken in his joyous and triumphant
interpretationof It all As II Il made any difference
what people do. Its What they are-unAerneath."
But you haven't any idea what am. underneath. :"
She appealed desperately to be contradicted
Haven't II" he treasured her tenderly; and then.