The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-01-22

Suppose were not?" said the girl, slowly
Assuming, merely to avoid argument that
am, suppose | were not?"
He smiled My imagination is not equal to tina
feat" He leaned little toward her, speaking with :
vibrating restraint that betrayed the depth OF the pas
sion beneath
In my eyes you arc pcrfcct-face of you, heart o
you. soul of you You are the ideal woman-and you
have 10 me 1t is too wonderful"
ITS mighty sweet OF you to say such things" she
murmured, butt frighens little You say ii
though you meant it,
L do it."
She laughed, but with a little catch of the breath
She lovely enough to justify the rhapsodes of any
lover, for her somewhat serious beauty softened
when she looked Norton with yelling Shyness that
only made 1t dazzling
"SGll-t isn't literally true, you know she urged.
with laughing depreciation
You don't know. II is true" he answered
oh I wish you wouldn't be so terribly in earnest
about it she cried
Virginia turned her eyes away 10 The lake which rip
pied at the foot Of the lawn behind brcakwater of
cannas and irises. The thud of steam launch cut
the afternoon stiffness for moment then the
startled hush crcpt back its place The very atmos-
phcrc of peace the scene; but when her eyes
came back to the motionlcss who leaned against
the vcranda rail and watched her the quiet was
tossed into swirl Of passion by the look in his eyes
I'm afraid" she murmurcd in the voice of child
He laughed, and came nearer. pulling porch chair
about so that he could lay hand upon her hammock
Afraid because l adore you1"
"Ycs-just that"
:" But / can't help it. 1t is you who arc to blame
You should not be so-pcrfect"
You haven't known very long" she said Eleven
weeks day after tomorrow. And have been guest
here, with the loveicst people and i'll the most beautiful
place in the world. OF the amiable side OF my
nature has TO light You just ought to see me at
home, in my everyday mood"
Il hope to- he said significantly,
The color flashed over her face should have sup
posed that wise and conservative would satisfy
himself such important points bcfore-before COM
mitting himself" she remarked at large
He put his hand out to touch hers, but she swaycd
the hammock lightly backward out of his reach
=" l did not need to-" he said quietly. "I knew-from
the first moment | saw you.
I don't know that l have ever told you of curious
feeling that I had when I first saw YOU" Norton con-
tnued slowly. "a feeling that had you before
All that day kept wondering where, how when There
something ! already knew your face. 1t ba11ed
mc-;hough l have good memory for faces. Then,
afterwards, I got theory about it,
Oh, Of courscl" she mocked
But he was not to be put aside by her mockery. Il
feel now that it prophecy rather than memory"
he said seriously. "Your face was familiar to me be-
it answered perfectly TO my dreams. You
the ideal l have waited for all my ife-my perfect
woman. nobly planned only perfect than
poet dreamed"
+" But don't you see" she urged in moment "that
you think merely because you love me?"
He shook his head.
Il love you because it is So"
But how can trust love founded on mistake
and mistake you arc bound TO discover in tme1
feel so unsafel You don't know me; your words
prove it" Her voice was urgent. almost breathess.
She serious about it all that sudden fear
struck his heart He gave her quick, strange look
and the silence between them beat loud in the OF
both.
Then she said, with trembling little laugh:
"Oh, have no buried crimes to confess do not
think there is anything my life which would really go
beyond forgiveness. AT the same time. should rather
have you see my faults and still love mc-forgive me
for something and still love me-,
The color surged back TO his face 81 love you be-
yond the possibility of forgiveness. Whatever you do
is right To speak of my forgving you is something
like sacrlegc7
She leaned back in the hammock and closed her eyes
TO hide sudden gush OF nervous tears.
"Then just must take my chances she murn,ured.
with trcmuous smile.
But surely you don't want me to hold you less per
feet" he protested in bcwildermcnt Virginia Look
at mel"
She started up with quick little laugh and book
which had lain beside her in the hammock slipped to the
floor As it opened photograph fell out and lay' face
upward, before Norton. lie picked up with an eN-
clamation.
Burton Warwick! However did you come to have
his photograph"
"Why. did you know him.? asked Virginia i'e'
voice was shaken with sudden surprise.
He was the dearest friend ever had, Norton Saio
He was still looking at the pictured face with settoF
getful emotion Where did it come from
1T belongs TO me-" Virginia answered quickly LOOK
ing up he saw that her face was crimson 10 the 'e
her soft dark hair, and that her hnter'hs eyenp
dropped low startled eyes
There arc crises when words betray their iui'oa'ei
inadcquacy. His eyes held hers VI Iuss.o'"s
pressing passionate, that she shra''" n''0''
"Wty did YOU ~-v-- tell me?" he asked slowly