The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1910-02-01
st s,,; I ''TRUXTON KING" RZSss Barr

| lid you promise him?"
Don't be cruel, Truxton," she
pleaded. II cannot forget all you
have done for me-"
You told Vos Engo to ride
back and pick me up" he persist
ed. He told me in so many
words. Now, l want a plain an
swer, Lorraine. Did you promise
TO reward him if newell, If he
saved me from the mob?"
She was breathlessly silent for
n moment. No." she said, in a
low voice.
What was it, then? I must
know, Lorraine" He was bending
over her, imperiously.
81 am very-oh, so very un-
happy, Truxton," she murmured
He was on the point of clasping
her in his arms and kissing her
But he thought better of it. t..
II came near spelling every
thing just now," he whispered
|hoarsely.
"What?"
81 almost kissed you, Lorraine
= o"Cul IL was hdiu W hSSp
from it. That would have spoiled
everything"
yes, it would" she agreed
quickly.
Pm not going to kiss you un-
til you have told me you love Vos
Engo." 20
II don't understand" she
cried, drawing back and looking
up into his face with bewildered
Ieyes.
Because then I'll be sure that
you love me-" =.
BE sensible, Truxton."
"I'l know that you promised
to love him if he'd save me. It's
as clear as day to me. You did
tell him you'd marry him if he
got me to a place of safety"
No. l refused to marry him
if he did not save you. OH
Truxton, I am so miserable
What is to become of all of us?
What is to become of John, and
Bobby-and your"
II think Ill kiss you now
Lorraine" he whispered almost
TREMENDOUSLY. God. how 1 love
you, little darling!"
DON'T" she whispered, reso-
lutely pushing him away after a
sweet second Of INDIGESTION. 81
cannot-I cannot, Truxton dear
Don't ask me to-to do that. Not
now. please-not now!"
He stiffened; his hands drop
ped to his sides, but there was Joy
in his voice.
II can wait" he said gently.
Its only a matter of a few days;
and II won't make it any hard
err for you just now. 1 think !
understand. You've-you've sort
of pledged yourself to that-to
him, and you don't think it fair
lowell, to any of us. I'm in
Guiding you, you see. know
you don't love him, and / know
that you're going to love me, even
If you don't at this very instant.
I'm not very stupid person, after
all. l can see through things. /
saw through it all when he came
back for me. That's why / Jump
ed from his horse and took my
chances elsewhere. He did q
plucky thing, Lorraine, but II
couldn't let it go as he intended
it to be. Confound him, / would
have died thousand times over
rather than have you sacrifice
yourself in that way. 1t was
splendid of you, darling, but
but very foolish. You've got
yourself into a dreadful mess over
1t. I've got to rescue you all over
again. This time, thank the Lord
from a CASTLE"
She could not help smiling. His
joyousness would not be denied.
How splendid you are!" she
said, her voice thrilling with a
tone that could not be mistaken.
He put his hands upon her
shoulders and looked down into
the beautiful, upturned face, a
genuinely serious note creeping
into his voice when he spoke
again.
Don't misconstrue my light
heartedness, dearest. It's a habit
with me, not fault. I see the
serious side to your affair-as you
view 1t. You have promised to
marry Vos Engo. You'll have to
break that promise. He didn't
save me. Colonel Quinnox would
have accomplished it, in any
event. He can't hold you to such
a silly pledge. You-you haven't
by any chance told him that you
love him?" He asked this in sud
den anxiety.
Really, Truxton, I cannot dis
Icuss"
mo, I'm quite sure you
haven't" he announced content
eddy. you couldn't have done
that, / know Now, 1 want you
to make me promise that you'll
keep"
"Oh, Truxton-don't ask me to
say that I'll be your She
stopped, painfully embarrassed.
That will come later" he
said consolingly. 81 want you to
promise, on your sacred word OF
honor, that you'll kiss no man un-
til you've kissed me-"
"Ohi" she murmured, utterly
speechless.
"Promise."
IL cannot promise that
she said in tones almost inaudible
II am not sure that I'll ever-evel
kiss anybody. How silly yoi
are!"