The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1911-09-01

you know"
She was curious as to why he want
ed the explanation, but she give it to
him unhesitatingly, without the faint
est touch of coquetry or embarrass-
ment.
II can't remember back to the
time" she continued, when didn't do
things like that to you, Just as you
did to me, and neither Of US ever
wanted an explanation before. Are
YOU trying to make up your mind to
disown me, or somethingT
He leaned back moodily into his
chair without answering her.
After little perplexed silence, she
spoke again. Il didn't know things
were going wrong with you. didn't
even suspect it until this morning,
when Uncle Jerry said"
What" Tom interrupted. What
does the governor know about it?
What did he say"
"Why, nothing, but that you were
playing in rather hard luck. he
thought, and that l was to be nice to
you. Is the world going badly real
ly badly-really badly?"
Yes" That curt monosyllable was
evidently all the answer he meant to
make. At that she gave. up all at
tempt to console him, dropped back
in her chair and cuddled little deep
er down under her bear skin, her face,
three-quarters away from him, turned
toward that part of the. sky that was
already becoming glorious with the
tints of sunset.
You've never had any doubt at all,
have you, that, really deserved the
job of being your big brother; that
l was that quite as genuinely as if
had been born that way!
No. she said; "of course not, Tom,
dear. What put suchSan idea into
your head?"
He paled a little, andSit was min
ute or two before he could command
the words he wanted, tofhis lips. BE
cause of my hopes, suppose" he
said unsteadily; "becausesI had hoped.
absurdly enough. for tile other an
swer. You asked as a Joke a while
back if l meant to disowp you. Well
l do, from that relationship because
I'm not fit for the job; because-be
cause-I've come to love you in the
other way"
She looked at him in perfectly blank
establishment. He would not meet her
eyes, his own, their pupils almost
parallel, gazed out, unseeing. beyond
her.
Slowly her color mounted until she
felt her whole face ba d4tdn't
know" she said Yon shouldn't have
let me 60 on thinking y.
y didn't know myself until today,
he interrupted her stormily;: Il didn't
know knew, that is. But when saw
you put your hands on that villain
Cayley, l wanted to kill him, and II
that same flash l knew why wanted
to-"
Turning suddenly to look at her, he
saw that she had buried her face II
her hands and was crying forlornly
"Oh, l am a BRUTE" he concluded, 'tt
have told you about 1t in this way"
What does the way matter? That.
not what makes 1t hard. It's loving
you so much, the way l do. and having
to hurt you. It's having to lose my
brother-the only brother lever had.
There was a long, miserable silence
after that. Finally he said: Jeanne
if you do love me as much as that
the way you do, not the way l love
you, but love me any Way could 70,
could you-marry me just the same
I'd never have any thought in thu
world but of making you happy. Ant
I'd always be there; you could coun
on me. you know"
DON'T" she interrupted CURLY
Don't talk like that, Tom She shiv
cred, and drew away from him will
little movement somewhere nea
akin to disgust.
He WINGED at 1t. and REDEEMED
Then, in voice that sounded curious
ly thick to her, curiously unlike hi
own, he asked a question:: III l ha,
told you all this a month ago-tol,
! you how felt toward yousand aske,
you, loving me the way YOU do, t,
marry me just the same, would you?-
Oh, suppose you would have re
fused. But would you haveshuddere,
and shrunk away from me--like that !?
did l shudder and shrink away?
she asked. Il didn't know it.
wasn't angry; I'm not nov. But
but that was a terrible thing 20
asked of me-"
Would It have struck you az ho,
rible,' he persisted. III ! haA asked /
q month ago."
! Perhaps not she answere,
thoughtfully. i've changed a goo
deal in the last month -since "
sailed away from San Francisco an
left the world behind us-our worl
and came out into this great whit
empty one. don't know why that 10.
Il know" He was speaking with
sort Of brutal Intensity that startle
her. Il know It's not u the Ia,
month you've changed; it's within tn
last "a hours; it's since you saw an
fell in love with that murderous lyin
brute Of a Cayley."
Il don't know" she said very ouie
". whether you're trying 10 kill Il
~ ff