Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1912-02-17

you pity me, and my folly needs your
| pity. But if you should tell me now
| that you love me I'd die of shame.
I'd distrust that Lowell couldn't help
it, and I've brought it all on myself.
oh, why have l grown up fool-why
have / wasted the long days?''
| She ran down past him. He did
not try to stay her. He understood
women not at all. He obeyed her cry
| to be silent-to keep away from her
| She turned to him when she reached
the ground.
| Il haven't even known enough to
understand how it stands between u.s.
Between us,' There was a vail in
her voice. She sobbed the rest rather
than spoke it: THAT river out there
| is between us, don't even belong
| to your coCntryi''
She pointed at the~great cross of the
churchyard- It stood outlined in the
starlight.
Religion stands between us! Ny
father and your grandfather are be-
tween usI'
She came hack two steps, her face
tear wet, her features quivering with
grief.
But there's something else between
us. Harlan, blacker and deeper than
all the rest Don't try to cross it to
come to me. You will sink in f. Fools
for wives have spoiled too many men
In this world 1 understand nowi
Your grandfather knew She raised
her eyes and crossed herself rever.
emily. Mother Mary, help me in this,
my temptationr'
She turned and ran away, sobbing.
Harlan hurried a few steps after
her, crying appeals. But he did not
persist. Her passionate protests had
come from her heart he knew. He
did not dare force himself on her
when she was in that mood.
He sat down again on the church
steps. He remained there in deep
thought until the red eyes in Dennis
Kavanagh's house blfnked out. With
moist eyes he looked up at the dark
house on the hill and pledged loyalty
to the child-woman, knowing that he
loved her. But that the love was the
love that mates man and woman for
the struggles, the prizes, the woes and
the contentment of life he was not
sure-for he still looked on Clare Kav-
anagh as more child than woman.
Marriage seemed yet long way ahead
of him. He rode slowly back to the
barracks.
The next morning he left Fort Cant
bas with big Ben Kyle to make a tour
of the Thornton camps. When he re-
turned to Fort Canibas, on the eve of
his departure to take up his duties as
General Waymouth's chief of staff, he
saddled his horse and rode across the
long bridge.
This time there was no white figure
on the church porch and no wistful
voice to call after him. He kept on up
the hill. He was not thinking about
what Dennis Kavanagh might say to
him He had resolved to ask Glare
manfu1ly If she would continue to
trust him for a while until both could
be certain that their boy and girl love
signified to them the love that life
needed for its bounty and its blessing.
That seemed the honest way. It
seemed the only way, as matters lay
between them and their families
Dennis Kavanagh was seated on his
veranda, smoking his short pipe and
inhaling the freshness of the shower
cooled summer air along with the
aroma of his tobacco.
81 would like to see your daughter,
Mr.. Kavanagh," announced the young
man boldly. "And I have not come
sneaking by the back way. It will be
a good while before 1 can see her
again"
THAT it WILL" responded Mr.. Kav-
anagh dryly, land it will be a good
long while before yen see her now
that may be mixed, but reckon yen
get the drift of itr'
1T will be better for all our inter
ests if 1 have few words with her."
persisted the young man, trying to
keep his temper.
will We talk to her through the air
or over the telephone?" inquired the
father sarcastcalIy. "She is not here,
she is not near here, and If We wait
for her to come back yen best arrange
to have your meals brought"
He did not pause for Harlan to. ask
any more questions. He came down
from the porch on his stubby. legs and
handed up an envelope The flap of
the envelope had been opened.
"She left this" he said, "and. hav-
ing opened 1t and seen that it held
nothing but what We might proftab1y
know, Thornton's grandson, here
give it into your hand, and We needn't
thank me-"
Harlan, wondering, apprehensive,
fearing something untoward, took out
the single sheet of paper. He read:
Big Boy-Go and let the world make
you a great man. I'm cropping. Perhaps
I'll my way some day and can follow
But just there's cure for Ignorance,
so there's a cure for hearts, maybe. Your