Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1911-07-12
BREAKING
AWAY
BY JEANNE LOIZEAUX


The precious letter was there-he
sorted it from the others in a mo-
ment and tore it open. His eyes
lighted and his head lifted with pride
He tore back through the green woods
toward the small group of tents on
the lakeside, where Mrs. Tiverton
was chaperoning her daughter Leona
and dozen other young people who
were camping. His first thought had
been of his mother-she would be
glad. Then he made his way straight
to Leona. His jaw set a little as he
remembered that he had left her f1irt-
ing, in her refined but desperate way,
with Harry Spear. Harry, too, was
being dangled. This would decide
matters.
He found her seated on a big pill
low under birch tree, her dark head
against the white trunk, her saucy
eyes bright, her mouth set stubborn
ly. Harry was just leaving her, his
face dark. Kingston walked straight
up to the girl and held her out the
letter, which she took, reading it
lazily. Her face hardened a little,
and she held out her hand formally.
Congratulations" she said, "since
you seem to be delighted over such a
crazy going to live in
South American wilderness! Won't it
be hard to break away?"
His heart sank, but he eagerly be-
gan to explain.
why, it's the chance of a lifetime
for an engineer. Under Foster, the
greatest man of his profession agoing.
and at a salary to begin on that
makes me Independent, with every
opportunity to work up. Don't you see,
Leona?"
He reached and took her hand, but
she drew it back. Anger as we'll as
hurt arose in him. He sprang to his
feet.
'Leona, are you going to marry me
and go with me? Could you be ready
in two weeks? That's all the time
we will have"
"You-must be crazy, King! I never
thought you were in earnest about 60
ing out there! Father could do better
for you financially-he'd be glad to"
You haven't answered me, LeOna.
You've trailed me for two years; I've
been engaged to you all that time,
and you've been engaged to me when
you pleased, and were not too busy
flirting with some one else. I'm a
civil engineer, and even if there was
work for me in a manufacturers Of
fee, l would not be dependent on
your father for anything. l love you
as l always have-you know that.
want you-for my wife, but if you
marry me, my life will have to be
yours. You can have all l have and
all | am, but l shall be myself, not
somebody else. Will you go with me?
Do you-love me enough? You won't
have the Injuries you have at home,
but you'll have wide, free life, and
love always!" He spoke rather holly,
but he had been patient long time.
The girl rose and looked at him.
Her first impulse was to yield, to tell
him she would follow him anywhere.
Then the old pride came up.
"In-two weeks? With no wedding?
when you could as we'll stay in civil
lization? No, thank you!" She in
tended it to begin as a discussion in
which she would finally be beaten,
but for once she was surprised.
CAS- you WISH" he answered coldly.
81 have said all I could"
He walked quietly away and left
her. Leaning up against the tree, she
thought it out After supper she
would let him seek her out-she would
relent, and he would be less master
full, more yielding But again her
plans failed. When she came back to
camp she saw the, little crowd all
standing about him, laughing con-
graduating him. He was in business
clothes, his suitcases beside him.
you're all good friends, the very
best" he said. TT will be hard to-
break away. But l shall need every
minute | can give mother, and two
weeks is a short time to settle my
business affairs up in. And lest l
should not meet all of you in town
again before l go, l am going to say
good-by."
He shook hands warmly with
every one, Leona not first or last, but
simply among others. She felt the
glance of the others curiously upon
her, and was angry and hurt that no
one even chaffed her about his going
Did they think she cared? Did they
think he had not asked her to go?
Did they think her sensitive about
him?
The plan had been for ten days
longer in camp. Spear, delighted at
Kingston Corey's departure from the
field, devoted himself to Leona, who
was glad to show her independence
by encouraging his devotion. But the
days became interminable to her and
the nights sleepless. From anger and
surprise, she became dismayed, and
then her heart sank hopelessly. Had
he said his last word to her? Would
he not write? She began taking the