Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1909-04-23
The Coward
By ANNA YORRE..

Rdliihh tuTuSu biOWly ITOm ne
contemplation OF Carraway' master
piece, and drew a long breath. ]
was so wonderful to think OFFS
Wonderful that he. Don Carraway, Il
praise Of whom the exhibition roon
echoed with well-bred murmurings
should have once been her lover, VIII
professed to have held nothing Fl
the world dearer than herself. Tn
thought fingered with her, and
mist slowly gathered over her eyes
0he memory Of their parting hat
suddenly ceased to be a bitter one
Not that she was relenting. Uncon
seiously she threw her head bacl
slightly. But the remembrance o
his last words persisted in remain
ing with her. He had said, You ar,
cruel, Katrina. Remember, Of M
own free will, have given you tn,
right to Judge me. I have beer
truthful With you. l have told yos
what otherwise you would never
know. relying upon love to mediate
your anger. do not blame you fol
condemning me. My selflshness has
been colossal; but, oh. little woman
love you sol"
Once he had been a coward-had
run away from q danger when Il was
his duty to stay. leaving another to
sufter the consequences OF his act
This he had confessed to her. and
for this she had refused to forgive
him. Hers was a proud nature. Born
Of brave race. size had never, ever
as child, known what fear was, and.
after his confession. her contempt
for CarrRway had completely sub
verted her love. great az It was.
So she had sent him away, a scath
Ing denunciation upon her lips. And
now-he was famous. The big world
had accepted him without a question
The lion Of the hour. be had reached
every standard but hers. Her lips
curved In a smile OF fine irony.
The room held no prettier picture
than she made. as she stood rapt
one tiny gloved hand upon the brass
protection rail. her attitude deepl,
thoughtful. A hard snow was fall
ing outside, and the jaunty ermine
hat which she wore was covered
with feathery crystals, surpassed in
brilliancy only by the gold of her
hair. which glowed and scintillateG
In the light coming from directly
above.
Her revery was disturbed by the
voices of two women, who had ap.
preached and who now stood be
hind her,
Beautiful. indeed" one was say
ing. THE world can little afford to
lose Mr.. Carraway's work. But the
doctor states positively that he will
never recove. the use Of his arm.
What pity. And the little Kent
girl. Is she around agaln2"
"oh, yes; Mr.. Carraway's house
! next to mine, you know, and
see her every day. trudging up the
steps and ringing the bell, her face
as grave as one might expect 1t to
be at 10, instead of seven. She is a
serious little mite, anyway, and the
artist himself cannot feel any worse
over his misfortune than she does.
particularly since his injury was sus
tained while saving her life"
reply to these remarks in which sh,
distinguished the words brave fel-
low" and "self-depreciatory." Tn
ladies had moved on. and had paused
before another painting at some dis
tanee from her.
In a da&e she drew her scarf
tightly about her throat and left the
building. A profusion Of question:
crowded themselves into her brain
v hat should she dot Was she
dreaming, or was Don really a hero
after sllf Was be suffering much
and would she 80 to himf Every
nerve IN her body tingled an answer
to the last part Of this question. OF
eoursei
The sharp wind whipped a bright
red color into her cheeks. as in hei
eagerness she half ran towards Car
Taway's home. Once she stopped
suddenly. The thought that perhaps
Don did not love her any more al
most took her breath away. anc
when she started again. 1t was less
confidently. Ten minutes later
when she arrived ct the house. her
courage was ct It's lowest ebb.
Tom. the CAFraWays' old butler
actually gFinned With delight when
be saw her. To him the face Of Mas
ter Don's old sweetheart was fami
liar one. He ushered her into the
library, answering all the while the
rolley OF anxious questions poured
out to him. And then be ran up
stairs in an unprecedented fashion
three steps At a time. to announce
her arrival TO Mrs. Carrawsy. A
few moments later pon's mother en-
tered the room. The two womer
were old friends aud embraced
warmly. Then. without a word. the
older put her arm around Katrina
waist, walked upstairs with her. aRt
left her in front OF Don's door.
It was slightly ajar. and Katrihi
made no sound as she entered. /
may be that the man on the beC
heard the beating OF her heart, fo
be turned suddenly and regarde,
her. For 4 moment his expression
was one OF startled Joy. Then h
held out his unbandaged hand will
friendly courtesy. This Is kind,
be said. But Katrina had seen th
expression. and her trspidstion ned
| "Donny," she breathed. And tn