The Glenwood post., 1911-05-20

feel quarrelsome any more, and
thought my big brothers hand would
eel-well-Erateful and comforting.
you know"
She was curious as to why he want
cd the explanation, but she give 1t to
him unhesitatinsly, without the faint
est touch Of coQustry or smbarrass-
msnt
Il 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 something?"
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. I didn't
even suspect 1t 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 / was to be nice to
you. Is the world going badly real
~ badly-really badly?'
Yes" That curt monosyllable was
evidently all the answer he meant to
make. At that she gave up all at
in her chair and cuddled little deep
or 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 l really deserved the
job of being your big brother; that
| l was that quite as genuinely as II l
had been born that way?"
No she said; "of course not. Tom.
dear What put such an idea into
your head?"
He paled a little, and 1t was q min
ute or two before he could command
the words he wanted. to his lips. BE
cause Of my hopes, | suppose he
said unsteadily; because l had hoped,
swer, You asked as joke a while
back II meant to disown you. Well.
do. from that relationship-becau
I'm not fit for the Job; because-be
cause-Tve 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 burning. Il didn't
know" she said. You shouldn't have
let me 90 on thinking"
'I didn't know myself until today
he interrupted her stormily; 81 didn't
/ know knew, that is. But when l saw
you put your hands on that villain
Cayley. l wanted to kill him. and In
that same fash l knew why wanted
| to-
Turning suddenly to look at her, he
! saw that she had buried her face In
her hands and was crying forlornly
"Oh. am q brute" he concluded, ito
have told you about 1t in this way"
What does the way matter? That's
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 l ever had
There was a long miserable silence
after that, Finally he said: Jeanne.
II you do love me as much as that
the way you do. not the way love
you, but love me any way--could you
could you-marry me just the same
I'd never have any thought in the
world but Of making you happy. And
I'd always be there: you could count
on me. you know"
DON'T" she interrupted curtly.
Don't talk like that. Tom" She shiv-
cred, and drew away from him with
little movement somewhere near
akin to disgust
He WINGED at 1t. and Redeemed.
Then. In voice that sounded curious
ly thick to her. curiously unlike his
own. he asked question: "If l had
told you all this a month ago-told
you how l felt toward you. and asked
you, loving me the way you do, to
marry me just the same, would your
Oh, / suppose you would have re-
fused. But would you have shuddered
and shrunk away from me-like that1"
Did l shudder and shrink away?'
she asked. Il didn't know it 1
wasn't angry; I'm not now. But
i but that was . terrible thing you
asked OF me-"
Would 1t have struck you - hor-
rible." he persisted. 'ff had asked II
month ago?"
Perhaps not" she answered
thoughtfully. I've changed a good
deal in the last month-since We
sailed away from San Francisco and
left the world behind us-our world
and came out into this great white
empty one. I don't know why that 10. I"
Il know" He was speaking with q
sort Of brutal intensity that startled