The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1909-03-08

crate southern courtesy had become a
byword In the south. He told her
household tales that were priced like
pieces of the Burrell plate. beautiful
heirlooms Of sentiment that mark the
honor of high blooded houses. follow
ing which there was much to recount
Of the MeadeS, from the admiral who
fought as boy in the bay of Tripoli
down to the cousin who was at An
uapolis, the while his listener hung
upon his words hungrily. her mind so
quick in pursuit of his that 1t spurred
him uncons"'n':oiy, her great, dark
eyes han closed in silent laughter or
wide with wonder. and in them al
ways the warmth of the leaping fire
light. blended with the trust of new
born virginia. love.
Then he began to laugh silently.
''What is it?" she said curiously.
'Oh, nothing! l was just wondering
say If they could see me now"
what do you mean?" the girl asked
in open eyed wonderment.
II don't care" he went ON, unheed-
ing her question. They did worse
things in their time. from what hear"
He leaned forward to draw her to
him.
Worse things! But we are doing
nothing bad" said Necia, holding him
of. There's no wrong in loving"
''Of course not" he assured her.
81 am proud of it," she declared. 1T
is the finest thing. the greatest thing
that has ever come into my life. Why.
l simply can't hold it. want to sing
it to the stars and cry it out to the
whole world. Don't you?'
81 hardly think we'd better adver-
tise," he said dryly.
"Why not?"
"Well, l shouldn't care to publish the
tale of this excursion Of ours. Would
you?"
Il don't see any reason against it.
have often taken trips with Poleon
and been gone with him for days and
days at "A time"
But you were not a woman then"
he said softly.
mo. not until today. that's true.
Dear, dear. how l did grow all Of a
sudden! And yet I'm just the same as
l was yesterday, and I'll always be
the same, just wild little. Please
don't ever let me be big tame.
don't want to be commonplace and or
binary. want to be natural-and
good"
"You couldn't be like other women"
he declared, and there was more ten
derness than hunger in his tone now
as she looked up at him trustingly
from the shelter Of his arms. 1T
would spoil you to grow up"
1T is so good to be alive and to love
you like this!" she continued dreamily.
staring into the fire. Il seem to have
come out of gloomy house into the
glory of a warm spring day. for my
eyes are blinded, and l can't see half
the beautifuls I want to. there are so
many about me-
'Those are my arms" INTERCEPTED the
soldier lightly in an effort to ward of
her growing seriousness.
"I've never been afraid Of anything.
and yet feel so safe inside them.
Isn't it Queer?'
The young man became conscious Of
a vague discomfort and realized dimly
that for hours now he had been smoth-
ering with words and caresses a some
thing that had striven with him to be
heard. something that instead OF
dying grew stronger the more utterly
this innocent maid yielded to him. 1t
was as If he had ridden impulse with
rough spurs in a fierce desire to dis
lance certain voices and in the first
mad gallop had lost them. but now far
back heard them calling again more
strongly every moment. A mans hon.
or If old may travel feebly, but its
pursuit Is persistent 1t was the talk
about his people that had raised this
uneasiness and indecision, he thought.
Why had he ever started it?
1.-THE marvellous part of it all" con-
tinued the girl. lis that it will never
end I know l shall love you always.
Do you suppose l am really different
from other girls?"
Everything is different tonight-the
whole world" he declared impatiently.
"I've had big handicap" she said,
"but you must help me to overcome 1t.
l want to be like your sister"
He rose and piled more wood upon
the fire. What possessed the girl? 1t
was as If she knew each cunning joint
Of his armor as If she had realized her
peril and had set about the awakening
Of his conscience deliberately and with
cautious wisdom beyond her years.
Wen, she had done it. and he swore to
himself. Then he melted at the sight
Of her, crouched there against the
shadows, following his every move
ment with her soul in her eyes. the
tenderest trace of a smile upon her
lips.
When she beheld him gazing at her
she tilted her head sideways daintily,
like little bird.
'Oh, my! What fierce you are all