Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1910-11-17
XIII.
Touche.

Touche.
Left alone, Flora glanced rapidly
around her. Now for a sally, now for
a dash straight for Kerr. The short
est way was what she wanted. Open
ing doors lately had led to too many
surprises. She pushed aside the long
curtains and stepped out through the
French window upon the veranda.
A hundred yards distant she saw
the two standing. Kerr presented his
back, and with his head a little canted
forward seemed to listen, absorbed in
his companion. But that companion
was a smaller figure than Mrs. Her
rick's, and her veil made an aura of
ilmy white around her face. The
sight of her was enough to stop Flora
short, and in that instant Harry, max
ing a cut across the flower-beds,
caught up with her. He stopped as
abruptly as she, and gazed with a
dismay that surpassed her own. For
an instant she thought he was about
to make a dash down the walk for
them. Then he caught F1ora's hand
and pulled her back. There was no
help for it, She thought. Her other
hand crept downward stealthily and
gathered up her swinging pouch Of
gold. Trembling, she let him drag her
back, but when they faced each other
behind the plumes and swords Of a
great pampas clump she was shocked
at the emotion in his face; and as If
what he had just seen had given the
last touch, his voice had risen d key,
and between every half-dozen words it
broke for breath.
Look here, Flora" he began; II
know you've been trying to give me
the slip ever since night before last.
I frightened you then. I didn't mean
to, but you had no business to keep
the ring after what I told you. No,
I'm not going to touch you" as she
shrank back against the pampas
swords, "but I want you to give 1t to
me, yourself, right here and now"
She looked up into his face, burning
fiery in the sun beating down on his
bare head. mo, no, Harry; I shan't
give it to you. Last time I said !
would give it to you for a good rea-
son, but now l wouldn't give it to you
for anything"
."You don't know what you're do
ing" he cried.
"k do; I know as well as you that
this is a part of the Crew Idol. I've
known it all along, and when the time
comes I'm going to give 1t myself to
Mr.. Purdie, but not until that time"
Harry passed his hand over his face
with an inarticulate sound. Then,
"You will ruin us!" he choked.
"I shall tell the truth, whatever
comes" she exulted. To tell the truth
and keep on telling it-that, in her
passion of relief at speaking out al
last, was all she wanted! But Harry
fell back, He changed countenance
He recovered himself.
Look here, Flora; IL you do I'm go
ing to leave you. I'm going to leave
you to what you've chosen"
She met it steadily. "Im glad yor
say so. I've been thinking for days
that 1t would be better So"
"Have your" he said in a low voice
looking at her earnestly. "Of course
l know the reason of that. I mean
1t to be different, but now there's nj
help. +"
With a motion too quick for her tt
escape he stopped and kissed hel
lightly. To that moment she hat
pitied him, but his touch she loathed
She thrust him away with both hands
He turned. Without speaking, with
out looking at her again. he walked
away. She watched him with a DIES
perate feeling of being abandoned, O
losing something powerful and valu
able. The faint, thin screech of a 10
connective from a station far down The
line made him pause, and turn, ant
gaze under his hand In the strong
sun. So for a moment she saw him
a lowering. peering figure moving
away from her over the lawn between
broad fiower-beds. Then he disap
peared among the shrubberF.
L AM L