Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1911-12-21


check; 1t was the bitter price that
she must pay for victory, tangible in
her letter to Windmere, but not until
she was alone.
Suppose the man you marry can't
understand that sort of hunger-has
never felt it? You might blow your
brains out some day when the fever's
on!"
ThrustiDg her chair abruptly back,
Millicent stood a little behind him.
where he could no longer watch her
face. When she spoke it was with
an effort, her tone showed strain
81 never should have allowed you
to rake up the past today" She
dropped her chin upon her arms,
crossed on the high back of his chair;
she stared, dry-eyed, into the glowing
Goals Mother was always ambi-
tious, even when we lived in a cabin
and she did the family wash She's
the same today, only instead of
money she Graves position and power.
Got so much for herself as for me,
andZwithin certain limits-she has
made me like herself. She dragged
me at the heels of society until she
compelled recognition In return she
asks only that l marry we'll That
letter would have paid my debt to
her She broke into an almost
hysterical laugh. Mother failed in
her generalship when she admitted
you today, for-with you here, sum-
moning up pictures of the past--I
can't do it,"
You don't object If smoke?"
Rising. abruptly, Adam selected a
cigar, and the hand that held the
match was unsteady. The girl, hav-
ing risen, also watched the Pickering
flame, hands clasped before her.
You, with a thousand moods day,
how do you know that this will laSt?"
The brutality of the question
whipped the girl to fury. Catching
up the letter she tore it, shred to
shred BY this and this" she
cried passionately flinging the frag-
mants into the flame. Then, empty
hands spread wide she turned from
him, suddenly weary of controversy.
Now go, l shall not marry Lord
Windmere."
The hands of the clock having COM
pleted the circle, its silvery gong
struck five. Within the hour Rowe
had made good his boast, but some
thing in the girls attitude spoiled the
flavor of success"
Until you put that letter into my
hand | had no notion the fellows
claim was so pressing" he said
tersely. You see, the girl we've been
talking of could give herself for moth
ing less than love. And l had come
here, free, for the first time, to speak
plainly Your attitude seemed t. say
that time for discussion was past, so
Il made time-I stole an hour-set
your clock back! But if you regret
your decision, it's not too late. Send
you letter 10 the train, it will catch
Windmere all right"
please 60" repeated the girl wear
lily. Pm tired-and mother will
have to be told"
~ said we Should discuss matters
concerning us both. | can't go till
I've said my say. Luck has stood by
me, thought it's been touch and go
with most Of us on The street these
last few months. But I'm out of the
woods now, and I'm goiT g to take a
long vacation
The girls las cs flickered; other
wise she did not stir.
I'm going ba,; to our hills and
plains; | want to AXE you with me-"
At last, when she was off guard
the only vital issue between them had
taken form Always, forming the
background of her life, she had dis
cerned Adams love. Yet, with a
woman's weapons she had avoided
recognition of it between them, since
once acknowledged, it could only be
a struggle to the death between II
and her ambition. Yet, now that he
had broken down her barriers, values
! S6GIuGu ulnOIOhlb lilC 1900 NOAhPASSN' -
/ new world opened-one in which her
| feet would trace familiar paths that
might lead to peace.
You don't guess how far I've
grown from our old life"
Nor do | care, girl-girl! It's
years since the child gave her prom
Use to the boy; need the man wait
| longer for his wife,"
Slowly her wavering eyes were
drawn back by his, filled with in
articulate love and worship, and the
blood leaped in her veins as she sur
rendered herself to his arms. AS
they closed hungrily around her ii
seemed as if she had been waiting
for this moment always, though she
had not known.