The Pensacola journal., 1912-11-13


with his dimplod arms and let his soul.
dissolving tears have way.
kThe duchess drooped over him As swiftly
and instinetivcly a. one covers wound
She gathered him 90 her as close and FIRMLY
a. could the most accustomed arms.
"There-there- auniic's precious boy
There, darling, shc crooned: and with the
immcmorial grading. "mothcrinR" sway,
got 20 her feet and hogan 20 valk with him
back and forth, hushing. murmuring. with
never a glance at the stupched witness of the
miracle. The duke sat. weakly.
Bulging roots and twigs caught IN thof
drapcrcs Penny Bond had deprecated
stained, ripped Kigzags IN the hlmy stuff
tore OF little hens and ribbon bindings and
trailed them An forlom wigis yards behind
the pacing figure that moved, oblivious,
eyes on the aaxcn head against her bosom.
The murmur driftod into a wordlcss song.
As natural and as soothing as the drone Of
the bees among the flowers. the plash oi the
fountain, the mediiaiive whisper OF the
warm, lazy wind. The sObs trailcd OF o.
sghs-to long brcaths. Desire and Du.
plicty were lost IN the need of a nap.
Caught IN his oVn tolls. hanging lcad-heavy,
flushed. kissable and angelic, the injured
one slept.
The humming faded TO mere whisper Of
sound, she paced more slowly. Tier checks
were pcony pink with heat, the pilcd coils Of
hair were askcw, the tendrils clung IN moist,
pale gold rings M her forehead and napc of
neck. Very gradually and cautiously. still
swaying her burden, she got 20 her chair and
rested IN IL with a soft gasp II fatigue
And looked up 10 meet her husband eyes.
How long that look lasted or when he got
across 10 her, neither knew. II seemed IN
evtablc and natural that ne should be on
his knees before her, arms laid up about her,
his face with is odd look Of hunger and
triumph, bent over her bare forearm, where
his lips burned adoringly. Shc looked down
on him mildly, materially, from the remote
ness Of her awakened, brooding woman-seli,
that center so vastly remote from woman
sclhshness The self she had been had acted
incredibly foolish and been incredibly mis-.
erable. But that was over for always, Of
course. Men were children. She freed her
lett hand and laid Il gently on the sun
burned brown head.
They went up te the house. after time,
the duke carrying the sleeping boy, the
oharmingly dishcvclcd Rirl--who looked not
AZ all a duchcssl-shielding the little head
from the sun. Penny and Sue, reconnoiter-
ing. came stcalthily out on the veranda--
and met them full.
The minute l saw that her chin was
tucked In and her lip-c0rnefs turned up. 1
knew Il was all right" Pen declared with
infinite oomplacence as he arranged his tit
before Sues smallest mirror. He had in.
vaded her dressing 20 utilize the few
minutes before dinner IN Dragging OF his
strategy and its success.
But II came In a much nicer way than
yoM planned, !" argued Sue. "She Says that
the sight Of our happiness nearly kHlss her.
Pen, but that She couldn't leave us.--shc
says she knew II she did take him back Il
would be here, but she didn't sec how shc
ever oouldi And she says she worshiped
the Babe, all the time, but she knew Il she
touched him she should just break down and
have mysteries. know breciscly how she
feltl She says she doesn't sec Why girls
aren't taught that their only happiness lies
in having family 10 keep them from lAda
and foolishness"
She Is a very wise young woman, said
Pen, winking abominably al bis own reaec-
ton.
Isn't shei" said Sue warmly. Whereat
be had the grace 10 be ashamed, and went
over and kissed her shoulder
My, but you're swagRcT tonight" ne
observed. She faced about and took him
BY button.
"Do you like This gown"
Altogether too well My admiration NJ
you Is too ardent 10 be comfortable
Silly Is IN But Pen, deaF---"
"fesr Why - long q pause,
Sweetness?"
"Wcll-you know what you said about
long skirts, to-day, do you ever think that
you'd like me 10 wear long skirts, always.
and not play tennis, but 20 Be more diglibed
and--and matronly, now that I have Boy
more, perhaps, ike Camilla"
He took the busy hand in both bis owp.
SUE" he said. She looked Up. And
al what she saw was ilcnced and y bit
awed. Slowly she flushed. Her eyes grew
purple Is panaes, her exquisite mouth trem-
blcd into a shamed smile, and she lifted her
free hand and shut out that dear truth and
Fcproach.
"Don'tl" she begged, though ne had
not spoken a word. "I-pcn, don't sup
pose mean hall these silly things I ask
you It's just because I'm a woman. |
guess. But that's al ANY woman is-bnt
a woman" q
That great truth is dawning on one, NJ
gsid. "ky dcgrccs."