The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1910-02-04

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But you said you loved me, Lita. "
"Yes," responded the girl, comfort
ably. You did not believe it?"
You gave me every reason to do
SO was the grave answer.
"Oh, l told it you!" she returned,
with shrug of the pretty shoulders.
The panied expression deepened on
his face, and his eyes widened in in
credulity. He took a few steps rest
lessly to and fro, the while glanclng
at her, half in doubt how to take her
words. She leaned gracefully on the
bridge railing, her cheek resting in
her hand. The lovely features, al
most perfect in their chiseling, wore a
dreamy expression that lent an added
charm to them.
You don't mean it, Lita!" he said,
suddenly pausing at her side. "You
are only joking. Say so, sweetheart,
and tell me again that you love me. {"
But she drew her hand away from
his close clasp and laughed lightly.
Don't be dramatic, Paul." she
said. Il don't feel that way inclined
tonight. Besides, 1 am going home
tomorrow, and our little story has
progressed quite far enough. OF
course, it is nonsense to suppose that
really love you. The man 1 marry
must be rich"
She turned from a languid survey
of the river and leaned against the
bridge rail.
Nonsense" he repeated. "Not
that, surely. Perhaps l was mistaken
in thinking you cared for me as
did for you. But you seemed to care
when you kissed me and said you
would be true"
We'll, it is nice to have lover,
and all the girls wanted you You
are handsome, you know, and it was
amusing to lead you on. What is a
kiss or two one way or the other?D
Paul Danvers listened dazedly, his
establishment and shock growing
deeper as she went on. Nonsense
and ~fun!' All the sweet promises
mad meant nothing more than this!
he was not man of many fancies.
He did not love every woman he met.
But this girl before him, whom he
had known only for few months,
had first appealed to his sense Of
beauty, then, because of her apparent
ignoring of the homage which all
men paid her, had attracted his ad-
niration.
She was much sought after, and
when, after repeated attempts to win
her favor he performed some slight
service in her behalf, thereby bring
ing himself into her notice, and she
gave him grateful glance from those
lustrous eyes, he felt something deep
er than admiration. Then began his
ardent courtship, in which she met
him half way, showing plainly her
preference for him above all others.
And his whole being had gone out
in appeal to this little bit of woman
hood that soon came to mean every
thing desirable to him. Her thoughts,
her wishes, her styles, were studied,
and his life and conduct shaped to
them as nearly as possible. Then
there had come the evening that
would stand out forever as a bright
spot in his life, when, standing here
in almost this identical spot, she had
laid her warm lips against his own
in pledge of love. Now she stood
there perfectly Indifferent.
Il still can't believe you mean to,
Lita," he said, unsteadily.
ooh, well, you will believe it some
day. / am weary. Let us return to
the hotel"
She turned toward the street.
"Stop!" Anger mingled now with
the determination in his voice. ave
will return presently; but you will
listen to me now"
She turned, surprised. His face
was white, his voice terribly calm.
You wanted my love-" he said
"You won it. In you / anchored
every thought, centred every ambi-
ton. Your words / believed as
wholly as if they sprang from the
fountain of truth. Your eyes were
my guiding stars. My hopes, ambi-
tions, everything, 1 builded about
you, and now you, you. for whom l
would have died, have proved your
self the opposite of what believed!
As l loved you once, l despise you
now!"
Are you through" she coldly
asked. "This is very tiresome.
Not quite. You say you intend
to marry rich man."
YES" she answered, glancing con-
temptuously at his plain attire. "Pov-
erty would kill me-"
"You judge by the outside" he an
swered, correctly reading her look.
you think me poor?"
Are you not?" she quickly asked.
"If were rich, you would accept
me, perhaps?"
She did not answer, but looked at