The Tupelo journal., 1912-05-24


close they almost hurt.
Thank God. / came in time!" she
heard him whisper.
But you did come in time" she re-
minded him, for she could still feel
him shuddering with the horror of the
thing. You brought me back, and I'm
not wen afraid any more" She
paused, and there vas a little silence.
Then she added: And I'm quite warm
now"
His arms slackened for q moment,
and then once more they clasped her
close.
"I-I-don't want to let you CO." he
said, and his voice had a note in 1t
which she had never heard before.
"Jeanne-Jeanne, dear, can you for
give me-forgive me that it's true? For
give me for telling you? / have the
whole world in my arms when / hold
you like this. And life and death and
promises. and past deeds, and right
and wrong, are all swallowed up, just
in the love of you. God forgive me,
Jeanne; it's true!" Then he unclasped
his arms. Cant you forgive, too?"
She caught her breath in a great
sob. Turning a little, she clasped her
own young arms around hts neck and
held him tight.
1t was . long time after that be-
fore either OF them spoke. Finally,
Jeanne asked 4 question.
But, why" her voice broke in an
unsteady little laugh. but why do you
ask to be forgiven? You told me the
very f,rst day, the day we found the
yacht had gone, that you-loved me.
That's why / allowed you to stay"
Yes, but there's an infnity of ways
Of loving. Jeanne, dear. l had . right
to love the soul Of you, for that was
what had given me my " soul back
and my power Of loving. But we set
out to live through this winter in the
hope. of a rescue, the hope that when
another day came 1t would bring a
ship to take you back into your W
real world. l couldn't go back with
you, you know, I a man with a stain
upon him. Since that was so, l hadn't
any right to love you this-other way.
l wonder If you understand, even now.
l love all of you; from the crown of
glory you wear, down to the print
your boot has left in the snow. l love
your lashes, your wistful lips. The
touch of anything that is warm with
your hands can thrill me. And as for
the hands themselves-oh, can't
make you understand" ~
Yes abe said very softly. Il un-
derstand. now"
and yet" he began after awhile,
Il haven't any right, when l must give
you up some day ~
She laid her fingers on his lips.
Well not talk of rights" she said.
Mot now, not tonight. But there's
something more to say. Philip. 1t
wasn't the sight Of the ship there
against the moon that made me tttak
Il wanted It all to end. That ~ tho
excuse / made to myself. but 1t vas
only an excuse. The real despair
came when I saw you lying saw how
gloriously free you were up there, and
thought 1t wasn't love that kept you
here beside me, but only pity Well.
q sort Of love. perhaps. but not what l
wanted, not what / felt for you. I'd
seen you draw away when / touched
you"
She heard q sound in his throat
that might have been q sob, though 1t
seemed meant for a laugh, and she
felt his arms tighten about her with
a sudden passion that almost hurt. So
she said no more, just kissed him and
lay still.
1t was a good while after thai that
she made a move to release herself.
Let me go now" she said, land I'll
get you some supper, or breakfast, or