Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1909-02-18

Dttduot 80
"rhat isn't any reason" he flung
out. DO you mean thas you don't
want me to comeY
She held out one slim hand to him
Don't" she said beseechingly-" don't
speak to me like that We must al
ways be good friends, but you mustn't
GOMEZ
He took her hand. ITS to be just
friends?"
yes"
"Neyer anything moreY
"Never."
"And yet that night after the acct
dent you let me kiss you-Margaret"
"Yes," very low.
The fire fickered and Slapped. The
little cat, disturbed somewhat, slipped
down from Ridgeway's arms and curl
ed herself up on the rug
Would you mind" Margaret said at
last, turning of the upper light2 The
5tTOng glare hurts my eyes. g
The rosy halo Of the lamp made dark
the distant corners Of the room. Mar
garet on her couch was a dim outline.
The little cat was invisible except for
her emerald eyes. Ridgeway came
back and sat down; then he bent for
ward
Margaret" he said sharply, "yo,.
are crying"
yes" she sobbed "Pm crying-oll
because you are such a black sheep,
Justin"
He drew his breath sharply. $50
that's it?" he said at last.
yes didn't know until tonight.
Aunt Clara told me-
He stood up "Then there's nothing
more to say. Goodby"
He went to the door, hesitated and
came back
"Look here, Peggy he said grimly,
"if / were a story book hero I'd take
my medicine and go away and suffer
in silence. And it would all be very
tragic and romantic, but 1t wouldn't
be sensible"
He threw himself into the big chair
and knitted his brows 1.-THE sensible
thing Is to get over the difficulty.
Let's begin at the beginning. Every
Yes" she murmured,
"Well, / am. I've wasted my time
in riotous living as the Bible says of
the prodigal, and when / funked in
my studies got what was coming to
me. But that was before 1 met you,
Peggy. don't think my worst enc
my could accuse me since the night
/ saw you at the junior prom In your
white gown, with, your hair twisted
up In big braid Ike a crown. You
seemed the princess In a fairy tale.
and l made up my mind then and
there that I'd win out"
He drew long breath and went on:
"But now know I'm not good
enough, and know, too, that have
not any right to ask you to walt for
me. Ali I'll ask is that you don't con
denim me utterly, don't shut me out
from your life"
His voice broke. Then as she held
out her hand to him he went on
steadily;
'T'm only going to ask that you will
believe In me and If, after two or
three years, no one else has come into
your life that you care for and
have made good, that you Will let
me plead my cause again"
He stood looking down at her. Her
cheek was laid against the bunch Of
white violets. Their delicate fragrance
was roundabout her.
''Dear little girl" he said, "Tll stick
1t out at college another year, md
then Ill go into business with dad
and show him what can do. And If
you will have faith in me-
She sat up. her eyes shining. "Oh,"
she said, Il felt that back of 1t all
there was man in you, Justin-and
then-when you saved my life-I felt
that 1t belonged TO you.
I'm not half good enough" he said
humbly.
She took from the bunch of yiolets
half dozen blossoms and held them
out to him.
"They shall be talisman," she said,
'of faith and hope and love. You
must let them keep you from all evil,
Justin"
And as he knelt beside the couch
the rapture In his eyes answered her.