The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-12-18


Assuming, merely to avoid argument, that
am, suppose I were not?"
He smiled any imagination is not equal to that
feat" He leaned little toward her. speaking with
vibrating restraint that betrayed the depth of the pas
sion beneath
you, soul of you. You the ideal woman-and you
have to 1t is too wonderful"
It's mighty sweet of you to say such things she
murmured, butt frightens little. You say it
as though you meant it,
IL do it."
She laughed, but with little catch of the breath.
She lovely enough justify the rhapsodies of any
lover for her somewhat serious beauty softened
when she looked Norton with yelling shyness that
only made it dazzling
Stil-it isn't literally true, you know she urged,
with laughing depreciation.
"You don't know 1t is true" he answered.
"Oh. wish you wouldn't be terribly in earnest
about it!" she cried
Virginia turned her eyes away the lake which rip
pied at the foot of the lawn behind brcakwater of
and irises. The thud of a steam launch cut
the afternoon stiffness for moment; then the
startled hush crept back to its place The very
phere of peace the scene; but when her eyes
came back to the motionless who leaned against
the veranda rail and watched her, the quiet was
tossed into swirl of passion by the look in his eyes
I'm afraid" she murmured, in the voice OF child.
He laughed, and came nearer, pulling porch chair
about that he could lay hand upon her hammock.
"Afraid because adore your"
"Yes-just that"
"But I can't help it. 1t is you who are to blame
You should not be so-perfect"
"You haven't known very long" she said. Eleven
weeks day after tomorrow. And have been guest
here with the loveliest people and in the beautiful
place in the world Of the an1iable side of my
nature has come to light. You just ought to
home, in my everyday mood"
81 hope to-" he said, significantly.
The color flashed over her face. 81 should have sup
posed that wise and conservative would satisfy
himself such important points before-before COM
hitting himself" she remarked at large
He put his hand out to touch hers, but she swayed
the hammock lightly backward out of his reach
Il did not need to-" he said quietly. Il knew-from
the first moment you
II don't know that have told you of curious
feeling that had when first YOU Norton
tinued slowly. "A feeling that had you before.
All that day kept wondering where, how when. There
something / already knew in your face. 1t ba1cd
me-though I have good memory for faces. Then,
afterwards, I got theory about it"
ooh, of counsel" she Knocked.
But ne not to be put aside by her mockery. " I
feel that it prophecy rather than memory
he said, seriously "Your face familiar to be-
it answered perfectly to my dreams. You
the ideal have waited for all my fe--my perfect
woman, nobly planned only more perfect than
poet dreamed"
"But don't you see" she urged in moment, that
you think merely because you love me?"
He shook his head.
Il love you because it is So"
But how trust love founded mistake
and mistake you bound to discover in time? I
feel so unsafe! You don't know me; your words
prove it" Her voice urgent almost breathless.
She was serious about it all that sudden fear
struck his heart He gave her quick, strange look.
and the silence between them beat loud in the of
both.
Then she said, with trembling little laugh:
sOh, have no buried crimes to confess do not
think there is anything in my life which would really
beyond forgiveness. At the time, should rather
have you my faults and still love me-forgive
for something, and still love me-"
The color surged back to his face. az love you be-
yond the possibility of forgiveness. Whatever you do
is right. To speak of my forgving is something
like sacrlege"
She leaned back in the hammock and closed her eyes
to hide sudden gush of nervous tears
"Then just must take my chances" she murmured
with tremulous smile
But surely you don't hold you less per-
feet" he protested in bewilderment Virginia! Look
at mel"
She started up with quick little laugh and book
which had lain beside her in the hammock slipped to the
floor As it opened photograph fell out and lay, face
upward, before Norton. He picked it up with an ex-
clamation
Burton Warwick! However did you come to have
his photograph"
"Why, did you know him?" asked Virginia. Her
voice shaken with sudden surprise.
He the dearest friend I ever had" Norton said
He still looking the pictured face with self-for-
getful emotion "Where did it come FROM"
"It belongs II me- Virginia answered quickly. Look
ing up he thai Ter face crimson the line of
her SOFT dark hair. al that her huttering eyelds
dropped low startled eS,:.
There crises when words Boy their fundamental
inadequacy His eyes held hers III questioning so
pressing. passionate that she shrank uncr it under
a definite arraignment
"Why did you tell me?" he asked slowly.