Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1910-03-01
JUST A WOMAN

why do you look at me like that,
Ken? I'm only flesh and blood, you
know. just like any other girl"
''Oh, no, you are more beautiful than
any other girl" replied Kenneth Mayes
impetuously-'fa more beautiful
They were standing together in front
of the fireplace, and now that they
were once more alone, after long days
of absence, they felt that they must
unburden their minds to one another,
Gene what might
DO you know, you brighten me
sometimes said the girl slowly, after
a pause, because you're so dreadfully
In earnest Do you mean it?"
"Of course l mean It,"
"Oh. Ken, you silly boy! Why, how
long have you known me, sir? About
thirteen weeks, isn't 1t? And, OF
course, I've been on my best behavior
ali the time You've only seen one
side of me-the amiable side. You
haven't seen me just as / am--at home
with the mater and sister"
"But l hope to. You will introduce
me?"
"Oh, OF course. I've no horrid crimes
to confess Just a few little pecca-
dillos. that's all Now, instead of hug
cling a delusion to your heart and
waking up one day crying you've been
deceived. l should like to have you for
give me for something beforehand, and
yet to love the woman while you de-
pIored the fault"
Presently she found him picking up
book she had been reading which
had fallen to the floor.
HIN! Tennyson," he said, and
opened It, His eye fell on photo
graph.
price arewl"-looking at her.
You knew him?"
Yes" she said. simply. wondering
at the change In his tone. Did your
HE was the dearest friend | ever
had. A man l would have laid down
NV life for" He spoke sternly, evil
IDENTIFY striving to suppress his emo
ton. where did you get his photos?
1t was given to me-" Her face was
crimson, and her eyelids dropped low
over her eyes.
"By him?"
Yes"
He groaned.
ITO think it should be you, Madge-
70 think Il should be you! You broke
his heart-one of the truest that ever
beat And I've been deluding my
SELF"
KENNETH" she broke in. Wait
don't blame me till you've heard the
story"
DO YOU knew that he practically
committed suicide-expoSirg himself
recklessly to the Boer marksmen till
at last bullet found him9 | know now
what 1t was that made your face so
familiar. He carried your photo next
his heart. and when he was dying he
nut IL into my hand. Bury 1t with
me Ken. he said And l did He had
told me the story few months before,
without blaming you. and without
mentioning names. But you killed
him. and he was one of the best
Il deny it," she cried sharply. Il
deny 1t. His death brought sorrow to
me. The story is very unhappy one.
If girl finds she has made mis-
take"
"A mistaken" he interposed, and
there was a look of scorn in his face
a nice sort of S mistake. Do you
claim that q woman can amuse herself
with a man-encourage him. lead him
on and then, when she's got him In
the tolls. turn round ana tell him she's
very sorry. but she's made a mistakes?
You are heaping blame without
having heard the girls side OF the
story. She"
"a woman who makes such mistakes
is unpardonable-unpa Why
DIDN'T
Kenneth. Be careful. You are the
only man. Kenneth. that l have ever
allowed to make love to me-the only
man have ever loved. The only one
''H'm,' he muttered sullenly. IT'S
all very we'll to put it OF on a mis-
take. / like the word as little as
like the action. And a girl who does
that sort OF thing once may do Il
twice. Now, what guarantee have
20. that -ext week. or next month
or next year. you won't ind tha'
you've made another mistakes"
Then he looked up. and there was 6
sneer on his lips.
Il won't keep you waiting even .