Arizona republican., 1909-06-15
(continued from yesterday.)

nave these two hands. I'll work"
 That would be terriblel Oh, if you were only rich,"
 You don't mean that. Kitty"
 Nc" relenting. q don't. But you bother me"
 "All right. This will be the last time. Will you marry me? I will do all man can to make you happy. love you with all my heart I know. You're afraid: you've an idea that l am tickle. But not this time. Kitty, not this time Win you?"
 T cannot give up the stage" She knew very well that she could. but she had an idea.
 "I don't ask even that. I'll travel with you and make myself useful"
 You would soon tire of that" But Kitty eyed him with kindly look. He was good to look at. Kitty was like a timid bather: she knew that she was going to take the plunge, hut she must put one foot into the water, withdraw if. shudrlc., al try it agsi;n.
 'Tire?" said Merrihew. 'If I did shouldn't let you know it. I'm a homeless beggar, anyhow; I've al- ways been living in boarding houses and clubs and hotels; it won't mat ter so long as you are with me"
 Kitty threw a crust to the gold fish and watched them swirl about it greedily. Merrihew had no eyes but for her. Impulsively he held out his hand. Kitty looked at it with thought; this would be the final plunge. Then, without further hesi- tance, indifferent to the future or the past conscious only of the vast hap pinesS of the present, Kitty laid her hand in his. He would have drawn her into his arms had not they both seen OMally pushing through the boX-hedge, followed by some be- lated tourists. Merrihew swore softly and Kitty laughed.
 On the terrace the tea-table dagzleI the eye with its spot,ess linen, its blue Canton, and its bundle of pink roses. Hillard extended his cup for a second filling, vaguely wondering where Merrihew was. They had threshed continental politics, en- gineering, art and the relative crafts. | precious stones, astronomy and the | applied sciences, music, horses and l geology, with long pauses in between. | Both knew instinctively that this learned discourse was but a make shift, a circuitous route past danger points.
 Have you ever heard of telling fortunes in tea grounds?" he asked.
 Yes. It is a pleasant fallacy, and nothing ever comes true" And La
 
 Kitty was. She needed Kitty at this sine who had never needed anybody.
 The tramp of feet beyond the wall diverted them for a space. A troop of marksmen from the range were re- turning cityward. They were dirty and tired. yet none seemed discon- tented with his lot. They passed in l haze of dust.
 The man and woman resumed their chairs. and Hillard bent his head over the cup and stared at the ,ircling tea grounds in the bottom. The movement gave her the oppor- unity she desired: to look freely and without let at his shapely head. DayI lfter day, serene and ciOudless Flor entinc days, this same scene or its ike had been enacted. It took all Ter verbal skill to play this game 'afely; a hundred times she saw in his eyes that warned Ter and armed her. When he passed hat evening on horseback she knew hat these things were to be She lad two battles where he had only me; for she had herself to war Igainst. Each night after he had ,one she fought with innocent de- ire; argument after argument she 'ffered in defense. But these were -!l useless; she must send him away. Ind yet, when he came, as she new he would. she offered him tea, Ind in rebellion she asked, Why not?l What harm, what evil? Was it abso- utely necessary that she should let II pleasure pass, thrust it aside The suffering she had known would ot that be sufficient penance for his little sin? But on his side. was his being fair to him? This mani ,ved her, and she knew it. Up to his time he had met her but twice nd yet he loved her, incredible as
 seemed. And though he never poke of this love with his lips, he | 'as always speaking it with his eyes. ; She never looked into her own l cart; wisely she never gave rein , self-analysis; she dared not. And | 3 she drifted on, as in some sunny ream of remote end. How ineXpicable were the currents [ nd cross-currents of lifel She had ( ret d thousand men, handsomer. more rilliant; they had not awakened lore than normal interest. And yet ' lis man, quiet, humorous, ordinarily | pod looking, aroused in her heart a iscord and penetrated the barriers T the guarded sentiment. Why? AL ( avs this query. Perhaps, after all, [
 was simply the initial romance 7 hich made the impression so lasting h, we'll; tomorrow or the next day ie end would come; so it did not atter. c There was one bit of light in this = byrinth: Worth had spoken: that sagreeable incident was closed. And lis present dream, upon what reef ! ould it carry her? She shrugged. c his action brought Hillard back to 2 trth, for he. too. had been dreaming. $ e raised his head. e Why did you do that?' he asked. Do what?" "Shrug."