The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-06-26

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nothing but all this rot Of position 10 mat
ter. Yet the rot is what scared me
away from her / confess It. There be so
much said. And fancied she wouldn I take
me-Lord, Of course she wouldn't except
for what | could give her | went away
as you know, but couldn't stay away, !
came back to ask her; and that first day |
saw you two / thought we'll you're
the glib, young, clean-cut sort that women
fancy oh, yes, you are | stepped down
and out i. And now I've got TO sit in the
Club window the rest Of my life and -and
hear this sort Of thing TilIotson said Of her
and not be able to do anything. It's a fine
mess, look at it all around"
Pen sat back, Imply
z don't know what use my eyes are, he
said feebly. Not the first thing Of all this
did dream. Why, | never saw her as you
see her
For which | am grateful Trudell was
drunk with the relief Of speech after his
mighty repression. "She's as sweet and
clean as a northwest wind. You know she's
clever but not how clever. keen, up 10
things, big and wholesome thinking She
could be-al a man could be and all
woman might be, to the right man Her
hands are the most beautiful woman ever
possessed There's no fag, or pearl powder
or lip tint there But what | want
what | really aOdHt, Pen, is place away
from things I've always known, want
place with a garden for her where could
watch her fussing round flowers; and I'd
wear slippers and smoke pipe, and she'd
scold to me about the maids and my ties
I'm hungry and thirsty for the blessed
bother Of her-you know, don't you1"
eyes, | know" said Pen; and wasn't
ashamed Of the lump in his throat
He was late in getting back to the letters
that waited his signaturethe most recent
incompetent's second try. His personal
mail awaited him, atop the pile. The first
letter he opened was a brief note from Miss
Parkman telling him that she had left Tillot-
sons and would be glad to return to Bond
and Griscom' S at her former salary.
After an hour Of the hardest thinking he
had ever expended on any woman save Sue,
he wrote asking her to call the next after
noon at three. II was a on-committal note.
AT two minutes before three Miss Park
man came, Pen was irritated to find himself
almost afraid Of her afraid Of what he
might discover; but looking at her with new
eyes he was compelled to admit that she was
a pretty girl-decidedly a pretty girl She
might have been anybody, positively, she
was 50 knowingly trig and up to the minute
in the smallest detail Of her street things
"Of course you know" he told her
frankly, that haven't found anyone-or
two-to fill your placer
81 hoped supposed you hadn't" she
answered, equally frank
Il want you to tell me, he said, "why
you left US. "
Miss Parkman showed neither surprise
nor confusion but she didn't reply at once.
She made answer finally, looking at the
polished desk top.
:" can't tell you any satisfactory reason.
had been here long time, and Il
suppose developed nerves. can promise
it won't happen again if you re willing to
take me back" She looked straight at him
then, and he saw that she was moved, for
some reason unknown to him.
You'll think II strange that insist, no
doubt, but there are reasons wky hang il
all, Miss Parkmanl-forgive me I'm not
clever al mincing words, and | want you to
be sensible. You always were sensible Re
call the way you left the day you left.
was talking to you earnestly and you
were er feeling badly; and we were inter
rupted Miss Parkman's head lifted
sharply and her eyes grew keen. Pen stam-
mered on It might have seemed er-- in
short, / don't know myself Deuce
take it, did I have anything at all to do with
your leaving here Not that | think SO,
but
Miss Parknlan came from her chair as
though hand had wrcnched her up. She
was scarlet, angry, contemptuous any
thing but conscicnce-stricken
Are sou TRYING tc tell me that anyone
would toH'G think
I'm afraid said Pen. scorching, that
they could really, don't you know
WheFeupon Miss Parkman turned her back
to him and stood - a full minute, hands
clerched
What must tell Won " the girls voice
F,.ls -.tIsa.os, s.@sssl 3ill la.sNe n.s coming
back oui u the question; but to make YOU
Asfy sure whv. asked to Conc back be-
caNse stsy 81 sure q ynu. Nas interested
ii ne business d course. bur in a way that
nn oits however cloSe te you--could have
found Objectionable. Don't you know
thai
l'ea exploded II do. felt Il.
aH flst snAS
: Thank you, II was 50. can make
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