The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1912-02-15

1 tender.hCnrCsJ and we'd been about
half quarrelins all day and I didn't
| feel quarrelsome any more, and !
thought my big brothers hand would
feel-well-grateful and comforting.
you know"
She was curious as 20 why he want
ed the explanation, but she give II to
him unhesitatingly. without the faint.
est touch Of coquetry or embarrass-
ment
II can't remember back TO the
time" she continued. when didn', do
things like that to you, Just as you
did TO me. and neither OF us ever
wanted an explanation before. Are
you trying TO make up your mind TO
disovn me, or something"
He leaned back moodily into his
chair without answering her
After a little perplexed silence. she
spoke again. Il didn't know things
were going wrong with you. didn't
even suspect It until this morning.
when Uncle Jerry said"
What" Tom interrupted What
does the governor know about Il?
What did he say
Why. nothing. but that you were
playing in rather hard luck, he
thought, and that was to be nice to
you. Is the world going badly real.
ly badly-really badly?"
Yes" That curt monosyllable was
evidently all the answer he meant to
make At that she gave up all at
tempt to console him. dropped back
In her chair and cuddled little deep
er down under her bear skin. her face.
three-quarters away from him, turned
toward that part OF the sky that was
already becoming glorious with the
tints Of sunset.
You've never had any doubt at all.
job OF being your big brother; that
was that quite as genuinely as II ]
had been born that way"
No she said; of course not. Tom.
" What put such an idea into
yO-. e..
He paleu =. little. and it was min
ute or two before he could command
the words he wanted. to his lips Be
cause OF my hopes. suppose. he
said unsteadily. because | had hoped.
absurdly enough. for the other an
sweT. You asked as Joke a while
back IL | meant to dlsown you. Well.
| do. from that relationship-becau
I'm not fit for the job because-be-
cause-l've come to love you In the
other way"
She looked at him in perfectly blank
establishment lie would not meet her
eyes, his own. their pupils almost
parallel. gazed out, unseeing. beyond
her.
Slowly her color mounted until she
felt her whole face burning Il didn't
know" she said you shouldn't have
let me go on thinking"
Il didn't know myself until today.
he interrupted her stormily. Il didn't
know knew. that is. But when | saw
you put your hands on that villain
Cayley. | wanted TO kill him. and in
that same fash knew why wanted
to-"
Turning suddenly to look at her. he
saw that she had buried her face in
her hands and was crying forlornly.
"Oh. | am a brute" he concluded, TO
have told you about it in this way"
What does the way matter? That's
not what makes 1t hard It's loving
you so much. the way do. and having
to hurt you. It's having TO lose my
brother-the only brother ever had"
There was a long, miserable silence
after that. Finally he said: Jeanne.
II you do love me as much as that
the way you do, not the way | love
you. but love me any way--could you
could you-marry me just the same?
I'd never have any thought in the |
world but of making you happy. And |
I'd always be there; you could count |
on me. you know"
DON'T" she interrupted CURLY. |
Don't talk like that Tom" She shlv- |
cred. and drew away from him with |
a lite movement somewhere near
7kin to disgust
He WINGED at il, and redeemed. |
Then. in a voice that sounded curious /
Iy thick TO her. curiously unlike his
own. he asked a question IF had |
told you all this a month ago-told |
you how | felt toward you. and asked
you. loving me the way you do. to
marry me just the same. would your
Oh, | suppose you would have re
used. But would you have shuddered
and shrunk away from me-like that?"
Did | shudder and shrink away"
she asked. Il didn't know H.
wasn't angry; I'm not now, But
but that was terrible thing you
asked OF me"
Would Il have struck you as hor
'ible." he persisted. IF had asked II
/ month ago.
Perhaps not" she answered
I've changed a good
ieal in the last month-since We
JAILED away from San Francisco and
eft the world behind us-Our world
and came out into this great white
imply one. don't know why that is"
Il know" He was speaking with a
ort OF brutal intensity that startled
Ter. Il know. It's not In the last
month you've changed it's within tho
aat "a honra. it'a cincq vOu gaw and