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

rush of business and left himself no idle time for
hroodng 1t had. therefore somewha, the effect of
surprise when nc found himself aboard the that
was sailing for Antwerp week later He told himself
that he had always intended to for holiday
that he going Europe he would encounter
Virginia Jackson, He needed rest
One night. a storm that beat hard against tAeuD
through the dragging hours of the darkness he looked
into the eyes of death His life little, his grasp
Of the mighty whole inadequate. What part of
all that he called himself would have vitality go on
into that Beyond WHICH lay Just over the blue threshold
all of him but the love he had crushed and cramped
and denied In his soul he reached out his arms to
question but this only-whe,her they might stand
together whatever came.
For the rest of the Norton sat the bow Of
the boat, devourns with impatient eyes the space that
still stretched before him Every that lay be-
tween him and Virginia seemed suddenly full of danger
This moment. moment might be the last that held
grace for him. and here he kept from her by this
impossible illusion of space!
When the boat reached Antwerp he found that the
party for which he had inquired had Schev-
enirsen Blu, he could not risk further delay May
Her answer came at LASTLY mail not by wire IF
you have learned 10 love me- you may come Otherwise.
what is the usc?"
Even in his new humility Norton laughed aloud. II
he loved her Had the trouble from the beginning
been that he had loved her i'll excess oo Realistically.
too loftly? OF his love there could be question!
Certainly the message was cryptic but it seemed to inn
ply permission. however conditioned. He took the
But when Virginia came into the room to receive him.
Norton quite forgot to ask for explanations. He forgot
everything that tho universe had somehow righted
itself The sudden lifting OF what had been Ike
incohersncies without knowing what they were
But Virginia. with woman's superior seamanship
upon the of emotion. held him to the charcd line
But. Richard are you sxrc
Sure that l cannot live without you. Oh. yes.-
She shook her head. opposing lifted palm his
No. sure that you know for real woman-jus.
mere human woman.
Norton took her hands in both of his and held them
when see you. know nothing past present ex-
cept that this you and that have been starving for
the sight of you for longer than can bear to
member"
woman, for, form appeared at t the French sndSx
stepped inside before she the two in the room Vr
oh. Rose here is Mr.. Norton Will you come in.
Richard, must love my sister Rose-my dear dear
sister"
her tone well in her words. and Norton felt the
demand upon him which it conveyed. before he
II am glad to see you,~ Rose said in tones so
vbran,ly like Vrginas that they shook him with sud
said A surge of red went her white face and
left it whittier than before" that you friend of
i there we're no o,er reason She smiled at both with
sweetness that made them ache to see. and slipped
Virginia watching him with keen suspense
You must never blame her-not in your Utmost
You don't know-you can't understand-not that I
blame you for not understanding! No could. But
to blame And she has been so unhappy She nearly
died 1t has been so hard on her-or she was not to
Norton felt his thoughts whirl He put out his hand
to hers
1T, was your sster-it was your sister warwiek
Yes" Virginia said
II was never you at all:
But why did you let me think j, was your"
You misunderstood; that all"
But why didn't you straghten out at onee,"
Why. at the gerry first said Virginia gently, II
didn't see Just what you meant t., And then: when u;
And then thought it chance to whether you
was the point.
Virginia! Have you made me go through this
asonzns summ me- 70, nothing It isn't possible When
when the facts were all the other Wy
thinking that facts have anything do with the mat
Mo-" he n,urn,ured in a dazed way.
oh no. Its the-the principle that is the i'm
portant thing If going to" the words
swayed like dizzy bridge but she went on bravely
over them going to live our lives out together: we
must not spoil what chances of success might have
by binding ourselves a. the beginning It is delicate
tina, merely human and if you 1rosld not i
and then came to see later would have fee
s,ands ~ ' ~ ''''>'
"Was tina, VIVA. you meant all the time." he asked.
Why. yes! tried TO make you understand that day
the lake. but you couldn't see what meant how
fundamental it And then the first time that you
had feared Suppose It IaS been instead Of Rose
1t might have been Suppose should say that Il
was"
He laughed little queerly 4 should never believe
II That will be the only safe way your con-
fessions Virginia, would you really have let stay
away forever"
Il was afraid trust love that would not mo
as was" she said gravely could live without YOU
could not live with you If your love should slip away
of course you would be- he said. humbly. Then the
old Richard Norton in him reasserted itself for
Still it wasn't quite right of to let me be-
Iieve what wasn't That wasn't really straight
forward"
Virginia elasped her hands upon her breast and lifted
a radiantly joyful face.
Then forgive me for that! Oh. don't you see,
dearest, don't what you forgive just a that
you really do forgive me something!"