The Nevada County picayune. (Prescott, Ark.) 190?-current, 1912-08-09

couiu STAND them. Thing | admired
was brainsi Aloud / said gently-al-
most humhly:
so glad you like him, don't you
know-did like, | meant"
Did llke3 | do stilll"-her tone
lifted In earnest protest. love to
think OF brave. dear Arthur and his
knights-so few, and yet SO full OF
love, of gallantry and daring"
SO his nights We're like that! By
JoVe. | was deyilish glad then that
they had been so few-that was some
comfort, dash 1t. | wondered II the
beggar was dead. But what difference
did 1t make now, after all? She was
mine now and she knew | knew 1t,
that WAS why this sweet, ingenious
child was laying bare to me her past
the darling!
Really. | ought not to let her go on.
Never mind them now" | urged
soothingly And needless of the win
dows, hitched wee bit closer
That's all past and gone and you and
! will yet see as good nights as they
ever We're" | spoke with assurance.
Don't you think so?" | added, softly.
She sighed Il don't know hope
so,"-she fingered obviously over 1t,
looking away again, the while her
hand put back the fleecy, golden
what-you-callit that was smuggling to
her eyes. | looked at the goddess
Hike forearm. barred to above the ell
bow, where it slipped from sight I'M
der the roll of sleeve, and thought OF
that night in my apartment when she
had made me feel OF her biceps, don
you know.
You don't know" l repeated with
gentle reproach oh. l say you
know! You know you know you
know" BY Joye, that sounded rather
rum, but knew she knew knew she
knew-sse?
She looked at me sidewise, her
slender forefinger pressing the half
parted lips slowly shaping in curve.
Then her little teeth flashed, jewel
hke-regular jolly pearl setting in the
frankest, sweetest smile.-and then
her glorious arm and wrist arched
suddenly toward me.
"Yes," she said contritely, and with
the most delightful, kindest infection
and laugh-such laugh!-a laugh
gurgling melodious-oh, dash 1t,
yes; | mean just that!-like the flute
notes in the overture 10 what s-his-
name-that sort!
That's the way l love 10 hear
man talk" she said warmly. Il think
it takes an American to stand up for
his own place, his own times-please!
And gently but with lovely smile,
she withdrew her hand that l had
folded close in mine. | let it go, for
| saw her look toward the house, and,
of course, | understood-jolly careless
of me not to have remembered-but
she would know from my nod and
shrug that / comprehended.
| sighed, and my deep breath
brought her gaze back to me and her
flashing smile as well.
And So" she said, lifting her little
chin. you think there are just as
many knights now as there used TO
be-"
almost laughed at the child-like
ouestion-but | didn't! Dash 1t, no,
wouldn't have done so for the world.
lust looked at her seriously and an
swered her in kind;
Perfectly sure Of 1t. don't you
know"
And by Jove, | was, Knew If there
had been any change, some newspa-
ner.reading chap at the club would
have mentioned it-that was safe; es-
neciallv one silly ass who was always
reading of some jolly comet that was
coming. He would know about the
nights
"Yes-Oh, yes, there are just as
many" l affirmed positively, and add
ed quickly: More, you know!" For
suddenly | remembered it was leap
vaar and | knew there was some jolly
rhyme about leap-year gives us one
day more-so, of course. there'd be
another night!
You don't know how glad | am to
hear YOU say that she said musingly.
There are just as many knights, you
mean. but the conditions have
changed-the man is changed-is that
it2"
should say the man was changed!
"Oh. dash it, yes!'' blurted. BY
love. hoped there wouldn't be an
other change.
You mean'-with little. chal-
longing. puzzled smile, she leaned for
ward. her elbow resting upon her knee
like a sculptured. Grecian pillar; her
eower.like curving fingers supporting
her chin like a Cortnthian what's-its
name. you know, the sort OF thing the
ancient what-you-call-'ems always
added to top off their stunning mar
HE columns-you know,-well like
that-"you mean we may find knights.
not only in the field, but In the shops,
upon the streets-even in the Sums;
or in the hospitals, In the church or
unon the bench-that Is your idea?'
II wasn't my idea at all should