Gilpin observer., 1909-11-11
'TheQuarrel
By KATE 10 RDA N
Copyright. BY J. B. Llppincott Coz

mat 1 love you so terribly II
frightens me?" He lifted the brown
hand that had been playing with the
pine needles and gently kissed its
every finger. 'Is that what you're 90
sure Of, Betty?" This as he laid the
fragrant palm against his cheek.
We'll. yoYre right. dear-if that's It, "
he said, with long sigh Of peace.
They we're in the wonderful. soul.
stirring silence of the Adirondack
woods. The gold Of the evening sky
glittered above the pronged trees.
Oars and boat-cushions, that had been
carried. were lying In heap near
them. She was sitting on the ground,
against fallen pine. His head was
resting on her knees. Other people
did not matter to them.
But that is not what meant, Bot"
An excited breath broke on the words.
Then It must be this-that you're
an angel. and that in marrying you
I'll be rewarded far beyond my earth
ly deserts" He smiled up at her. Sc
curely awaiting a warm contradiction.
He laughed and rose to his elbow.
You vain, cheeky thing" But she
looked at him 30 accusingly he grew
serious. Whats up? What have /
done?"
It's what you haven't done, Rob
ert"
"Robert?" he echoed. This gets
tragic. What haven't I done. Eliza
beth ANN"
Don't" she said. and frowned.
We'll. you look it as you sit there" +"
he teased. Yes. as you put your head
up that way and set your mouth.
you're the living image-for the first
time-of your awful. full name"
IT'S all very we'll to take 1t 80
lightly" she said. her gaze sad and
searching; but I'm not keeping
things from you. haven't had a past
and secrets"
Thank God. MOI" be said, his eyes
warm. as he tried to take her hand
again.
But you-you have" and the hand
he wanted was shot behind h.y back.
The thing I'm sure of is this-you
have not told me everything"
He remained silent for a moment
II don't quite understand you, dear.
What sort of things do you want me
to tell you?"
He saw she was very much in earn
est. Her eyes were clouded, her face
set under the light coat of tan. the
breath strained in her long, full throat
that rose above the boyish collar Of
her serge blouse.
You remember the day after I said
I'd marry you?" Her dignity bent a
little and her voice melted at the
memory.
He stared at her. puzzled. and then
laughed softly. as at a memory. He
did not see her vince at the laugh.
That's Just what my dad said" He
nodded
And what was the amusing thing
your father said?"
He treated me to some observa-
tions On the sex to which you belong,
Betty. My boy. he said. a woman is
the most inquisitive of all living
things. Eve began 1t, and every
mothers daughter SINCE said dad,
takes after her. They have an in.
tense curiosity about every slightest
thing that in the remotest way
touches the man they love. They are
particularly keen about his past. The
lady novelists are responsible for this
lady novelists believe that all men
are walking sepulchers of dead sins,
said dad. You, my boy. will be ques-
TONED about that past You're only
rs. and you haven't done anything
very wicked. but you won't be be.
lieved. In fact said dad, I'm not
sure that you'll be really popular un.
less you pretend to have some grave
faults from which marriage .reclaims
you as brand from the burning, be.
cause a woman. my boy said dad,
would rather feel that she had had a
hand In reforming a man by marrying
him. than marry Sir Galahad ready.
made. who'd give her none of the
credit"
But Betty sprang up and brushed
past him, leaving him sitting aston
ished among the pine-needles, staring
at her.
She gave him a long, bewildered
scorching look. and, catching up her
sailor hat from the fallen tree, went
from him SO rapidly her skirts made
furry Of undulat!ons about her feet
He left the oars and the boat.cush.
ions, and was after her In q light
swinging run down the glade of the
wood where the lemon.colored glitter
poured as II from electrified metal.
Betty he reached her and fiung
one barred. coercing arm about her.
Darling"
Don't" she said. wheeling on him.
Her face. being pale. was CHASTITY in
the unearthly radiance. you despise
women. You have betrayed yourself.
And thought you-but no matter
what ! thought. Your fathers cynic.
Ism has not been wasted on Won