Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-10

I'm sorry" he said at last Il made mistake,
Rita, | made a mistake.
The sobs began anew ~How-how could you treat
So9'
waited for the storm to pass. Meanwhile he had the
good taste not to touch her again But the sobs
diminished he repeated
al made mistake Rita. You made me think
"Oh" her face appeared for a moment above her
arms and then instantly disappeared you re odlousl
"Why, Rita he said with warm franlncss, show
could believe anything else. All your talk of friend
ship-why, you asked me to marry you! What did you
expect of mco'
"Not that-not what you did-the way you did II.
You torgaVc me. once.
She raised her head careless of the which still
coursed. ayes, | forgave you Them but not now. |
can't forgive you now. No ki. sed a
the way you kissed me unless he was mad about her
despised her.
"Dcspiscdi'
"Yes You might as we'll ask me to forgive you for
numbering my brother. You've killed something inside
me-ny pride, think. can forget that
She got up and turned her back to him, lingering for
her handkerchief. She had none. He slowly undd the
kcrchcf from round his neck and put it in her hand
"Dont cry, Rita
"Cry!" She wheeled about still stanching her tears
"No III not cry. was fool cry. LII not cry any
| cried because-because | was disappointed
that anyone trusted could be SO base"
"I'm not SO dreadful as all that. You must admit"
"I'll admit nothing except that made mistake
too. 1t hasn't been pleasant awakening. know now
what those kisses meant"
Wray's incomprehension deeper. Il wish did"
he said a sure they wouldn't do you any harm.
You wouldn't have been frank with me, if you hadn't
been pretty of yourself.
"That was my mistake. | was Of myself that
l didn't think it necessary to be of YOU And
while Jeff trying to understand what she meant she
went on. "Those not my kisses They were i'm
personal, and might have been given to any woman
that is, any who would allow them. Each of
them a separate insult Judas observation-disclosures
kisses-kisses of retaliation-of revengc!"
"What earth you talking about?"
"Youve been using me to square your accounts with
your wife-thats ALL scornfuly. "As If you didn't
know!"
He flushed crimson and bit his lips "Thats not
true" he muttered sWhat does matter to my wife9
Why should she who kiss, or why?'
at doesn't matter to her, | suppose she said,
it does you. Curiousy enough you're still in love
with your wife. She's in love with somebody else.
Naturally, it wounds your self esteem-that precious
self esteem of yours that's more stupendous than the
mountain above you. She hurts you, and you
ming for the linment Thanks! You've come to
the wrong shop, Mr.. Wray!'
TEFF'S brows darkened He opened his mouth as
> though to speak; but thought better of it. But
Rita Cheyne took up the bride Of her horse and led lin
to rock that she might mount, Jeff nterfered.
zone moment Rita. | think we'd better have this
thing out. I'm beginning to understand better the
width of the breach between US It's widened some
it up tomorrow. I'm sorry; but I'm not going to have
any more misunderstanding, either. | want you to
forgive you I've cared for you good deal
enough to make sorry you only foong. Things
don't to be going my way and I've had a lot Of
thinking to do that hasn't made me any too cheerful
don't seem to things just the way did, This fight
has made me bitter. I've got everything against me-
your world the organized forces OF your world against
a rank outsider. belong to the people who work with
their hands. I've always been pretty proud of that.
l East and mixed up with lot Of your kind of
people, | had good time. They asked me to their
houses gave me their wine and food. They knew what
they about. They had need of me. But, matter
what they said did, they for moment let
forget what I'd come from. You the only Of
ali that crowd who tried make feel differently.
Was it any wonder that was grateful for it,
"Your gratitude takes curious form"