Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1910-02-02
CHAPTER XIV.


How long do you think it will be
before they will be here?" asked the
man. after they had sat silent on the
nil to windward of the fire watching
the trail of smoke.
Il should think that 1t would be per.
maps an hour or little more. Why?"
she returned, after a moment pause.
Are you anxious to have them here ?"
For the life of her she could not
Keep the bitterness out of her cues.
ton. The man looked at her in sur.
prise. She had never lost her temper
bofore him in the years they had been
together. There had been something
singularly simple, free. and unre.
strained in their life. Nothing had
ever occurred to veS her, at least not
alter the man had known enough to
notice 1T. She was woman cS sunny
even temper under any circumstances,
and she had felt it incumbent upon her
to be as nearly perfect as possible,
since she represented humanity to
him. nor had it been difficult task
for her to be gentle This flash of re.
sentiment, therefore, struck him as
something entirely novel. In his
engagement for a moment he forgot
the injustice of it, the unkindness of it.
He looked at her strangely and said
to her, with a little touch of Sc.
verify:
You know that it is not that,
Woman"
He had no terms of endearment,
He had never heard the words that
lovers use, and although he knew that
sicr name was Katharine, and he be.
lieved that his was John, and though
sometimes they made use of these
names, generally they called each 9TH
er by the broad generic terms which
stood for sex. Names are only for
differentiation and Identification in
any event, and here was no need for
such appellation. She loved to call
him Man." and she loved to hear him
call her Woman"
You know" he said, that it's not |
who brought the world upon>us.''
Il was unjust, unkind, she an
swered quickly enough, stretching out
her hand to him. You must forgive
me. You see even the approach of
yonder ship brings bitterness into our
hearts and into our speech"
Il guessed that it would be SO when
] saw you weep" said the man. II
wish now that had not given you the
flint and steel; that had not allowed
you to light the beacon"
My friend, it had to be. Don't re-
proach yourself for that. Sooner or
later this island would have been Wis.
tied by some one. Sooner or later the
ship would have come to fetch us
off"
But we were SO happy here" he
protested
Yes" she answered, but not since
yesterday"
Are you unhappy because / love
your"
Because" she made swift to reply,
Il am no longer sure that you will
love me always"
But you love me. do you not?" he
questioned, eagerly.
yes"
Are you sure of yourself?"
Absolutely"
why not of me, then? Am less
true? Do | love less than your
Not now"
What is the difference between us.
thcn?"
81 have seen the world and you have
not"
But tell you that will make nc
difference; that
No man can say that who has NO
experience to draw upon"
You are my mentor" said the man,
gently. You have taught me all !
Know. but sometimes ] think that
about some things know more than
You. and this is one thing of which
am sure
YES" said the woman, you can
be sure SO long as conditions remain
az they are at present. but other
times. other manners"
You have something to tell me!'
interpcsed the other. swiftly.
The woman nodded.
You said yesterday you would tell
me to-day. Why not tel me now?"
''Because---"
She hesitated.
Are you afraid to tell rs7o