Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1912-03-27
CHAPTER XVI.
The Kiss on the Hand.

HG Mss on the F1dnQa
"Did it ever occur to you," began
Enid Maitland grave1y enough, for she
quite realized the serious nature of
the impending conversation, "did it
ever occur to you that you know prac-
tically all about me, while I know
practically nothing about you?"
The man bowed his head.
"You may have fancied that I was
not aware of it, but in one way or
another you have possessed yourself
of pretty all of my short and, until
I met you, most Uneventful life," she
continued.
Newbold might have answered that
there was one subject which had been
casually introduced by her upon one
occasion and to which she had never
again referred, but which was to him
the most important of all subjects con-
nected with her, and that was the ma
ture of her relationship to one James
Armstrong whose name, although
he had heard it but once, he had not
forgotten. The girl had been frank
ness itself in following his deft leads
when he talked with her about her
self, but she had shown the same re-
ticence in recurring to Armstrong
that he had displayed in questioning
her about him. The statement she
had just made as to his acquaintance
with her history was therefore suffi-
GENTLY near the truth to pass I'M
challenged, and once again he gravely
bowed in acquiescence.
81 have withheld nothing from you,"
went on the girl, whatever you want
ed to know, I have told you. I had
nothing to conceal, as you have found
out. Why you wanted to know about
me, I am not quite sure"
cit was because" burst out the
man impetuously, and then he stopped
abruptly and just in time.
Enid Maitland smiled at him in a
way that indicated she knew what
was behind the sudden check he had
imposed upon himself.
Whatever your reason, your Curl
osity-"
Don't call it that, please"
''Your desire then has been graf
flied. Now it is my turn. l am not
even sure about your name. I have
seen it in these books and naturally
1 have imagined that it is yours"
cit is mine"
''Well, that is really all that I know
about you. And now I shall be quite
frank. | want to know more. You
evidently have something to conceal
or you would not be living here in
this way. 1 have never asked you
about yourself, or manifested the
least curiosity to solve the problem
you present, to find the solution of the
mystery of your life
Perhaps" said the man, "you
didn't care enough about it to take
the trouble to inquire"
"You know" answered the girl,
''that is not true. have been con-
sumed with desire to know
GA Woman's curiosity?"
''Not that" was the soft answer
that turned away his wrath.
She was indeed frank. There was
that in her way Of uttering those two
simple words that set his pulses
bounding. He was not altogether and
absolutely blind.
Come said the girl, extending her
hand to him, 'we are alone here to-
gether. We must help each other
You have helped me, you have been
of the greatest service to me. I can't
begin to count all that you have done
for me; my gratitude"
"Only that?"
''But that is all that you have ever
asked or expected" answered the
young woman in low voice whose
gentle tones did not at ali accord
with the holiness and courage of the
speech.
''You mean?" asked the man, star
ing at her, his face af1ame.
81 mean," answered the girl swift
ly, wilfully misinterpreting and turn
ing his half spoken question another
way, 81 mean that 1 am sure that
trouble has brought you here. l do
not wish to force your confidence, I
have no right to do so, yet I should
like to enjoy it; can't you give it to
me? l want to help you, want to
do my best to make some return for
what you have been to me and have
done for me"
II ask but one thing" he said quick