The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1909-10-10
Tell me- why did you plunge into this hazardous matter

Then with a start her eyes opened wide;
she rose and stared at me with parted
lips; and a vivid blush spread all over
her face. 81 believe 1 understand. You
think in your English way, that I have
been too forward, UnwOmanly, tOO-Oh!'
and she covered her crimson cheeks with
her white strenuous fingers.
Don't say that, please. Why, the
time we've been together has been the
brightest thing in the world to me-"
She took her hands from her face and
sat down again staring at the table
while the flush died out of her cheeks
slowly. I've gone all over that SEN
tence. That has been is the clue. Now
1 see. It's all over and we are cOnven-
tio7al again" With an exaggerated af
fectation of a society manner she rose
very slowly, held out her hand and SIM
peTed: Il hope you will have pleasant
journey, Mr.. Anstruther. The weather
is still open enough to be excellent for
travelling. Will you make my cOmpli-
ments to your sister, and say l hope to
see her some day."
l could not restrain a smile, but not
a muscle of her face moved; she kept up
the vapid shipper. Il will give your
message" 1 said, and tried to take her
hand; but she just let me touch her
IlQ2eE-LlDS ana LnSn bowed
Il am so pleased to have met you;
and thank you so much for all you have
done. / hope you'll not take cold from
the rain. Colds are such distressing af-
fiictions." Then another sudden change.
With a stamp of the foot she threw her
head back and her rich blue eyes spar
killed.. rs that better?"
1 bowed Il am sorry you so misun-
derstand."
''MisundeTstand!' she repeated, quick
ly. Il don't misunderstood that if you
were the kind of masculine fOrmality
you have been acting here this morning
you would never have done what you
have for me in the last two days. / am
only a woman of cOurse-wait, you will
wish to see Father Ambrose again be-
fore you go. I'll tell him." and she
crossed to the door
Goodbye" I said, but she paid no
heed and went out of the room. 1t was
not the kind of parting I had looked
for, but I smothered my regrets. 1t was
better so.
We could not go on being Bob and
Peggy to one another of course; and yet
we had been too closely associated to
drop back into mere formal friendli-
ness again without q wrench. She
couldn't see this in a moment; but she
would understand 1t later; and-well,
the sooner 1 was away. the better for
my peace of mind.
Then she came back bringing the
priest with her He was very plastic
clay in her white young hands. He wore
a look Of deep and almost cOmical per-
plexity, and was obviously very i'll at
ease.
Nov, father, please. What have you
said or done TO Mr.. Anstruther to
change him in this short timer
He glanced half appealingly to me:
but I was as little at ease as he was.
MY dear child, I-I-er-"
you have lectuTed me already on the
wisdom and necessity of complete frank
ness, father" she interposed signifi-
cantly,
ut is very difficult to gather" he
got no farther, for she held up a warn
ing finger and shook it at him with a
'augh and then placed it on his lips.
There shall not be any difficulty, -
she declared. For two days Mr.. An
struther has been just like a brother
to me; treating me perfectly frankly
and saying as candidly as any brother
whatever was in his thoughts. We made
a compact that he should do that, and
he kept it honestly. I left him in that
mood when I first saw you. You then
had long talk with him and I found
him entirely changed; saying things he
didn't mean and meaning others he
didn't say. Instead of brother, he was
an acquaintance. You caused this by