Monroe City Democrat. (Monroe City, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1912-07-04


beggar was dead. But what difference
did it make now, after all? She was
mine now and she knew / knew it;
that was why this sweet, ingenious
child was laying bare to me her past
the darling!
Really, l ought not to let her go on.
Never mind them now" l urged
soothingly. And needless of the win
dows, l hitched a wee bit closer.
That's all past and gone and you and
l will yet see as good nights as they
ever were." l spoke with assurance.
Don't you think so?" l added, softly.
She sighed. II don't KNOW hope
so!"--she fingered obviously over 1t,
looking away again, the while her
hand put back the fieecy, golden
what.you-call-it that was smuggling to
her eyes. l looked at the goddess
like forearm, barred to above the ell
bow, where 1t 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't
you know.
lou uOu hnOW lCpCdION WAN
gentle reproach. "Oh, l say, you
know! You know you know you
know" BY Jove, that sounded rather
rum, but knew she knew knew she
knew-see?
She looked at me sidewise, her
slender forefinger pressing the half
parted lips slowly shaping in a curve,
Then her little teeth flashed, jewel
nke-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; l mean just that!--like the flute
notes in the overture to what's-his-
name-that sortI
That's the way I love to hear a
man talk!" she said warmly. Il think
1t takes an American to stand up for
his own place, his own times-please!"
And gently, but with lovely smile,
folded close in mine. I let 1t 90, 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 l 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
Question-bUt didn't! Dash It, no, l
wouldn't have done 30 for the world.
Just looked at her seriously and an
swered her in kind:
Perfectly sure OF It. don't you
knowi"
And, by Jove, I wasl Knew II there
had been any change, some newspa-
per-reading chap at the club would
have mentioned it-that was safe; es-
pecially 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!" affirmed positively, and add
ed quickly: More. you knowl" For
suddenly I remembered It was leap
year, and knew there was some Jelly
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 musingiY.
There are just as many knights, you
mean, but the conditions have
changed-the man is changed--is that
tt?'
~ I,should say the man was changed
"Oh, dash 1t, yes!" I blurted. By
Jove. hoped there wouldn't be an.
ItaAtr change.
eYou mean"-With a little, chal-
longing, puzzled smile. she leaned for
ward, her elbow resting upon her knee
like q sculptured, Grecian pillar; her
hower-like curving fingers supporting
her chin like a Corinthian what'sIts-
name, you know, the sort OF thing the
ancient what-you-call-'e always
added to top of their stunning mar
BILE 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 slums (;
or in the hospitals, in the church or
upon the bench-that is your idear"
1t wasn't my idea at ALL should