Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1912-03-22

losing. She was ordinarily q skillful
player. as Cathewe knew. but tonight
she lost constantly. was reckless with
her leads and played carelesSly into her
opponents hands. Cathewe watched
her gravely. Never bad he seen her
more beautiful. and the apprehension
that she would never he his was like
band straining over his heart.
How many times be stoOd on the
precipice during the dinner hour
Breitmann doubtless would never be
told. A woman scorned is an old story.
STILL the story goes on. retold each
day. The red fires Of revenge danced
before Hildegarde Won MitteFs eyes.
bluring the spots on the cards, the
blackness Of despair crowding upon
each dash. Let him beware. With
word she could shatter bis dream-aye.
and so she would. What-sit there and
let him turn the knife In her heart
and receive the pain meeklyi No. II
was the thoughtless brutality with
which be went about this new affair
that bit 80 poignantly. With all her
beauty. intellect. genius and generos-
ity. she had not been able to stir him
as this young girl was unconsciously
doing. She held no animosity for the
daughter Of her host She was clear
visioned enough to put the wrong
where 1t belonged.
at Is your lead" said the admiral
patiently.
Pardon me-" cOntritely. The gen.
tie reproach brought her back to the
surroundings. 1T is the motion Of the
boat" hazarded Cathewe as be saw
her lead the ace. II often find myself
losing count In waiting for the next
roll"
"Mr Cathewe is very kind" she re-
Piled. The truth is, however. am
simply stupid tonight"
Breitmann continued to speak lowly
to Laura. lie was evidently amusing.
for she smiled frequently. Neverthe-
less she smiled as often upon Fitz-
gerald-never a glance toward the wo.
man who held his fortunes. as they
both believed. in the hollow of her
hand. Breitmann appeared TO have
forgotten her existence
When the rubber was finished Ca.
THEY'VE came into the breach By sug.
costing that they two. he and his part.
ner, should take the mir for awhile,
and Hildegarde thanked him with her
eyes. They tramped the port side. say
ing nothing. but thinking much. His
arm was under hers to steady her. and
he could feel the catch each time she
breathed. as when one stiles sobs that
are fearless. Alb. TO hold her close
and TO shield her. but thousand arms
may not intervene between the heart
and the pain that stabs II. he knew
he knew all about it. and there was
murder in bis thought whenever bis
thought was of Breitmann. To be
alone with him somewhere and to fight
1t out with their bare hands!
She had been schooled in the art Of
acting, but not In the art Of dissimu.
lation. She had been Of the world
without having been worldly. and
sometimes she was as frank and sim.
pie as a child And wordliness makes
buffer In times like these. Cathewe
thanked God for his own shell. tough.
ened as 1t had been in the war OF
life.
They paused by the rail. Without
warning she bent swiftly and kissed
his hand. which lay upon the rail
How kind you are to mer'
"0h. pshaw!" But the touch of her
lips shook his soul.
Cathewe was one of those sure,
quiet men. staff TO lean on. that a
woman may find once in a lifetime
They are as usual thing always low.
ing deeply and without success, but
always invariably cheerful and buoy
ant-genuine philosophers. He knew
that the whole heart Of Hildegarde
Won Mitter had yielded to another
But II had been thrown. as 1t were,
against wall. There was this one
hope, dimly burning. that some day
he might catch II on the rebound.
why are not all men like your" she
asked.
THE world would not be half so in
teresting. Some men shall be fortu
nate and others shall not Everything
has TO balance in some way"
ITO have met you" childishly.
Don't talk like that. 1t always
makes me less sad than furious
Wen 60 on as we have done in the
past. good friends. Call me when you
need me. and wherever ! am ! shall
come"
How pitifully weak must seem tc
you"
You would be no happier II you
wore mask. Hildegarde. what has
happened? What power has this ad
venturer over you: cannot under
stand. He was man enough to say
that you were guitless Of any wrong.
He said that?" turning upon him
sharply. She could forgive much.
he could not see her face. but by
the tone of her voice be knew 1t had
frightened. "Hildegarde." and be
| nraSsad hiq hand down hard ovaT