The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-05-31
CHAPTER XVI.
because You-Are You."

"Because You-Are You."
Poor. brave-hearted girl! How pitt
full and heartrending to a keen-eyed
man of the world, seemed her poor
little sham about her fathers trust In
her! For knew the facts, you know!
And suddenly it came to me that l
Just couldn't and wouldn't let her go
on this way, without the sympathy OF
the man she loved; without the pre-
cious consolation of knowing that ne
knew! She was being badgered and
rough-shouldered and put upon and
distrusted and mangned by every one
she knew, and she had no one In all
the world to turn to but me-and-
Oh, 1 wanted her to know what l
thought, don't you know!
l slipped to the seat beside her.
"Er, Miss Billings" began, think
ing absent-mindedly Of what I should
say, and forgetting that we were quite
alone.
"'Miss Billings!' Why do you call
me that?' Her lovely brow puckered.
'T remember, now, that's twice you"
Frances, then!" corrected softly.
She Strengthened, her bosom lifting
with a quick intake. By Jove, that
was what she wanted!
"Oh!" Then she leaned slowly back,
looking at me thoughtfully through
half-closed eyes, her lips parted IN
the oldest smile.
And screwed my monocle tight and
let her have smile for smile, deter
mined to chirp her up and make her
feel our oneness-that sort OF thing,
YOU know. And succeeded! For OF
a sudden her head went back and the
joyous peal of her canary laugh start
ed off the jolly birds in the trees
above US.
"Oh. you" A stare, and then an
other burst as she bent forward, face
buried in her hands. Then 1t lifted
sharply, fame-dyed-her lips tremu-
lous, her eyes shining like sapphire
stars. "Oh!" she gasped, and how
enYied the little hand she pressed
against her waist; but the windows
dash the windows! 'That's-that's it
-Frances-just that much! But, do
you know, | don't-don't believe you
really know my full name. l remem-
Der now several tn" She bent to-
ward me witchingly, her wide blue
eyes challenging my candor. Hon
estly, now-do-you?"
So 1t was that thought that was
tickling her! Well, by Jove, I had her
there, for I had heard the judge men
tion her name in full. l would sur.
prise her!
ooh, don't II" exclaimed, winking
as 1 polished my glass. We'll, how
about Frances Leslie Billings?" 1 let
her have it slowly, distinctly, and
with yet note of triumph 1 could
not altogether hide. And then re-
morseful for her amazed expression, /
explained frankly: Got it from your
father this morning, don't you know,
during our long talk about you in the
library"
"Wh-'
Then she swallowed and her face
fell perfectly blank. By Jove, l could
have kicked myself for jolly ass for
breaking it to her so raw! Of course,
she would know that if her father
talked of her, it would be nothing for
me to hear that was true or kind
nothing she could wish might be said
to the man she loved.
1 fastened to reassure her:
"But 1 don't believe dashed word
of anything he said about you'-I
spoke hotly-"and 1 don't care jolly
hang for what the others said, either
so there you are!"
"Oh, you don't?" Could tell how I
had touched her by her expression,
don't you know; and she fell to look
ing at me the queerest way. And
would you mind telling me who the
Others are?"
l eyed her gloomily, sympathetical-
II. AS If she didn't know alreadyi
Well-oh, dash It, my mind has
been filed with-er-just anything!"
/ began cautiously.
II know,'-she murmured it as II
to herself-"one can see that" And
she bit her lip.
in the first place, you know"-apd
there I pulled up. No, dash it