The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-04-11


into the character OF the dead banker.
had my first conversation with
Louise. She sent for me, and against
my better judgment | went
She held out her hand and ! took
1t between both OF mine.
What can say to you, Miss In
nes?' she said slowly ITO have
come like this"
I thought she was going to break
down, but she did not
"You are not to think Of anything
but OF getting well" | said, pattlng
her hand When you are better, I
am going to scoId you for not coming
here at once This is your home, my
dear, and OF all people in the world,
Halsey's old aunt ought to make you
welcome"
She smiled little, sadly, thought.
Il ought not to see Halsey, she
said. Miss Innes, there are great
many things you will never under
stand, am afraid. am an imposter
on your sympathy, because IL stay
here and let you lavish care on me,
and all the time know you are going
to despise me-"
"Nonsense!" | said briskly Why,
4 what would Halsey do to me if even
ventured such thing? He is so big
and masterful that If | dared to be
anything but rapturous over you, he
would throw me out Of a window. In
deed, he would be quite capable of it,
! She seemed scarcely to hear my fa-
cetious tone. She had eloquent brown
eyes-the lnneses are fair, and prone
/ to grayish-green optic that Is better
/ for use than appearance--and they
4 seemed now to be clouded with trou-
4 BILE
Poor Halsey!" she said softly.
Miss Innes, cannot marry him, and
am afraid to tell him. | am cow
4 ard--a coward"
| sat beside the bed and stared at
/ her She was too Ill to argue with,
and, besides, sick people take queer
4 fancies.
I'VE will talk about that when you
are stronger" | said gently.
But there are some things must
tell you," she insisted. You must
wonder how | came here, and why
stayed hidden at the lodge. Dear old
Thomas has been almost crazy, Miss
lines | did not know that Sunnyside
was rented knew my mother wished
to rent it, without telling my-step-
father, but the news must have
reached her after | left. When
started east, | had only one idea--to
be alone with my thoughts for time,
TO bury myself here. Then, l--must
have taken cold on the train
you came east in clothing suitable
for California" | said, and like all
young girls nowadays, | don't suppose
you wear fannels." But she was not
listening.
Miss Innes," she said, has my
stepbrother Arnold gone away?"
What do you mean?" | asked
startled Rut Louise was literal.
He didn't come back that night,
she said, and it was so important
that | should see him.
81 believe he has gone away" | re
piled uncertainty Isn't 1t something
that we could attend to instead?"
But she shook her head Il must dc
1t myself" she said DULY.
Halsey came to the door at that mo
ment and | could hear him coaxinl
Liddy for admission to the sick room
Shall bring him in" | asked
Louise, uncertain what to do. The
girl seemed to shrink back among
her pillows at the sound of his voice
was vaguely irritated with her;
there are few young fellows like Hal
sey-straightforwar honest, and will
ing to sacrifice everything for the one
woman. | knew one once, more thar
80 years ago, who was like that; h6
died a long time ago. And sometimes
] take out his picture. with its cane
and its queer silk hat, and look at 1t
But OF late years 1t has grown toe
painful; he is always boy-and | an
an old woman. | would not bring hin
back ii could.
Perhaps it was some such mem
ory that made me call out sharply,
Come in, Halsey' And then | tool
my sewing and went into the boudiol
beyond to play propriety. ! did no
try to hear what they said, but every
word came through the open door will
curious distinctness. Halsey had evi
IDENTITY gone over to the bed and
suppose he kissed her. There was 81
lence for moment, as ii words wer'
superfluous things.
Il have been almost wild, sweet
, heart, -Halseys voice why didn'
you trust me, and send for me be
fore?"
: ut was because couldn't trust my
SELF she said in low tone. Il an
! too weak to struggle to-day; oh, Hal
sey, how | have wanted to see yoal'
There was something did not hear
then Halsey again.
I'VE could go away" he was say
ing. What does it matter about an.
one in the world but just the two 0
us? TO be always together, like this
hand in hand; Louise-don't tell m
it isn't going to be. | won't belley
you"