Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1909-12-10

Inll. she went Oh, yOu uOu hho"
how hard my work Is. This gold dust
stuff seems to eat right into me. and
I can't get it Off. See here" and she
showed him the marks.
He gazed at the gilt marks on her
neck and spoke sympathetically to her,
Jenny interrupted him.
"PhIl, do you ever think Of the old
days, before was married? You said
was pretty"
"You were pretty" he answered un-
steadily. "and-and YOU are pretty"
How his pulses thro bbed
"Yes?" she, Frightened. And. Phil.
you kissed me once. remember what
you said"
what did sayY" he faltered.
"You said my lips were the sweet
est things you ever tasted"
He rose in agitation.
~ must 90. Jenny" he said. 81
can't wait"
"Not yet, Phil" she begged. and
swiftly changing the ground OF her
attack. she spoke of her life with such
humble sadness that Philip. touched
and treasured. sat down again. 1t
seemed. she said. as II an evil star
hung over her Why should George
have been killed? If he had been
spared her everything would bave
been different. And IL they hadp't
taken away her little baby and let 1t
die then still she would have bad
something live for. Her voice broke
as she spoke of her baby. And If
that selfish woman hadn't left her
husband alone then. perhaps even
then, she would have kept straight
But things had been too hard for her.
She hadn't had a fair chance. and
She turned to Philip with her whole
soul In her eyes. TELL me, Phil, do
you think me wicked girl?"
mo. Jenny. IL don't"
"Oh. thank you!" she cried.
"Slt closer TO me-here. People get
lonely. don't they. Phil:''
Her eyes were burning on him.
"Ye-es."
"And want to be loved, don't they?
"I-I suppose So"
"And- sometimes petted?
He could not speak: be could only
look at her. at her swimming eyes and
her red. half parted lips. She trem-
bled with the love that scars and sears,
but will have its way. For moment
she met his eyes and then with swift
passion caught him In her arms.
81 love you"" she cried passionately.
"Oh. how love your
She kissed him full on the lips again
and again. and he returned her kisses
Then at this moment Of peril-then
suddenly some power In him cleared
his brain. and in fash Of sober vision
he saw Margaret, his Margaret. look
ing at him with grave reprcof. With
sudden revulsion be broke away from
her. crying:
"What dog / am
Jenny. dlsillusioned. Inundated. rose
quickly and stood looking at him. A
bottle on the table caught his atten-
ton. 1t was the little flask Of liquid
gold. The truth suddenly flashed upon
him. She had been playing part; she
had tricked him here toto destroy
him.
"You little DEVIL" he cried.
"Philr' she cried In fear.
"Let me see those stains" he or
dered, and he tore he1 wrapper open.
exposing her neck. He rubbed his I'm
gers over the stains.
"Ah, thought so! You said 1t
wouldn't come off. 1t comes of quite
easily. You were lying to me-"
mo" she said weakly.
He opened the bottle.
81 say you were lying. It's the same
stuff. You brought 1t here; you put 1t
On your shoulders; you-you"-
81 didn't mean any HARM"
mo harmr' he shouted. "HeavensI
What do you call harm? Because you
nate the girl | love you get me here
by tricks and lies. Joe Caffery neves
sent that note!'
"He wrote II. Phil"
You made him write 1t. If he
wanted to see ME he'd be here. You
Wanted TO get NE here-alone.
He paused.
40 you-do you own upT'
"ycs." she said family.
Phil. IL did it because
you're bad all through"
Jenny shrank In despair
81 mn bad all through" she said
quietly. "All right. got you here by
q trick? That's true. And | hate, the
girl you love? You bet do!
But what are your she famed.
you are loyal lover: you are q
preacher of reform. Philip Ames, but
you held ME in your arms, and you
kissed my mouth"
She paused, then added:
"And you liked 1t! You liked itF'
She showed the scorn Of the woman
for the man who Is weak and places
the blame on her.
Philip sank into chair. crushed,
burying his face In his hands. How
could he ever face Margaret again?
Jenny forgot herself. her defeat. in
the desire to console the beloved one.
It was q sisters feeling. pure, com
passionate. unselfsh.
She knelt beside him and compass
sionately whispered his name.
He rose with hatred In bis voice:
Don't speak to me-"
The tone drove her to desperate