The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-03-17

mtIchf"
temper of mine. It's about the only
thing that does 1t too. And please
don't plague me, II you've only few
moments to stay. 1t may amuse you
to know that 1. too. am exhibiting
signs of increasing infirmity. My tenn
per, If you please. is not what 1t once
was"
Worse than everY' he asked in pre-
tended astonishment.
Far worse. 1t is vicious. Kit-Ki
mine, and I slapped her. And the 9TH
er day Drina hid in a clothespress
while Nina was discussing my private
affairs, and when the little imp emerg-
ed could have shaken her. Oh, am
certainly becoming infirm. So If you
are. too. comfort yourself with the
knowledge that am keeping pace with
you through the winter Of our discon-
tent"
tering voice, "what secrets Drina
heard"
would you like to know what Nina
was saying to me" she asked.
'T'd rather hear what you said to
her. Were you laughing or weepingT
Perhaps I was yawning. How do
you know" she smiled.
After a moment he said, still curious,
"Why were you crying, Eileen"
"Cryingl I didn't say was crying"
81 assume it."
"Well-yes," she admitted, II was
crying-if you insist on knowing. Now
that you have driven me to admit that,
can you also force me to tell you why
I was SO tearful?'
Certainly" he said promptly; ut
was something Nina said that made
you cry"
They both laughed.
ooh, what come-down!' she said
teasingly. "You knew that before. But
can you force me to confess to you
what Nina was saying? If you can,
you are the cleverest cross examiner
in the world. for I'd rather perish than
tell you
"Oh," he said instantly. then it was
something about lovev
He had not meant to say 1t. Me had
spoken too quickly, and the flush of
surprise on the girls face was matched
by the color rising to his own temples.
And, to retrieve the situation, he spoke
too quickly again-and too lightly.
"a girl would rather perish than ad-
NIT that she is in lover" he said, fore
ing laugh. THAT is rather a clever
deduction, l think. Unfortunately,
however. happen to know to the con-
trary, SO all my cleverness comes to
nothing"
The surprise had faded from her
face, but the color remained, and with
it something else-something in the
blue eyes which he had never before
encountered there-the faintest trace
Of recoil, Of shrinking away from him.
She was beginning to love him no
longer in her own sweet fashion, but
In his, and she was vaguely aware Of
it, yet curiously passive and content to
put no question to herself whether it
was true or false. And how it might
be with him she evaded asking herself
too. Only the quickening Of breath and
pulse questioned the pure thoughts un-
voiced; only the increasing impatience
Of her suspense confirmed the answer
which now, perhaps. she might give
him one day while the blessed world
was young.
He had not yet spoken when again
she lifted her eyes and saw him sitting
in the dusk, one arm resting across his
knee, his body bent slightly forward.
his gaze vacant.
He did not stir. Then unreasoning,
instructive fear confused her, and she
heard her own voice, sounding strange
ly in the twilight:
''Why you are so silent with me.
What has crept in between us2 I"-
the innocent courage sustaining her
II have not changed, except little in
in the way you wished. Have your"
"No," he said in an altered voice.
'Then what Is it2 I have been-you
have left me so much alone this win
ter, and l supposed UNDERSTOOD
"My work." he said, but she scarce
iy knew the voice for his.
IT know; you have had no time.
know that ought to know 1t by this
time. for I have told myself often
enough. And yet when we are to-
gether It is-it has been-different
Can you tell me why2 Do you think
me changedT
"You must not change" he said.
The, mounting sea Of passion swept
him. he turned on her unsteadily, his
hands clinched. not daring to touch her.
Shame, contT1tion, horror that the dam
age was already done, all were forgot
ten. Only the deadly grim duty Of the
moment held him back.
''Dear." he said, .'because I am un-
changed-because IL love you So
help me. and God help uS bothr'
Tell me-" she said steadily, bot It
was fear that stillsd her voice. She
laid ono slim hand On the table, bear
ing down On the points Of her angsrs
S4stD thA nails WhitanAA hyt kAr hAaA