The Tupelo journal., 1912-02-23

&As~e
did you do that for. Just now!"
At first she was In doubt as to what
act Of hers. he referred to. do you
mean my handT she asked, after look.
Ing at him in puzzled curiosity for q
moment
He nodded.
"Why-because I was feeling a lit.
tie lonesome, I suppose, and sort Of
tender-hearted, and we'd been about
half Quarreling all day, and l didn't
feel quarrelsome any more. and
thought my big brothers hand would
acknowledgement and comforting.
you know"
She was curious as to why he want
ed the explanation, but she give it to
him unhesitatingly, without the faint
est touch of coquetry or embarrass-
ment.
Il can't remember back to the
time" she continued, when l didn't 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
disown me, or something's"
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 1t until this morning,
when Uncle Jerry said"
What" Tom interrupted. What
does the governor know about 1t?
What did he say?"
why. nothing. but that you were
playing in rather hard luck, he
thought. and that l 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 a 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.
have you, that / really deserved the
job of being your big brother; that
l was that quite as genuinely as if
had been born that way?"
NO. she said; "of course not. Tom,
dear. What put such an idea into
your head?"
He paled a little, and it was a min
ute or two before he could command
the words he wanted, to his lips. Be
said unsteadily; because had hoped.
absurdly enough, for the other an
swer. You asked as joke while
back If meant to dtsown you. Well.
do, from that neutrality-suspicious.,
I'm not fit for the Job; because-be-
cause-I've come to love you in the
other way"
She looked at him In perfectly blank
establishment. He 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"
II didn't know myself until today"
he interrupted her stormily; II didn't
know knew, that is. But when l saw
you put your hands on that villain
Cayley, l wanted to kill him, and in
that same fash l 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, l am a brute" he concluded, Ito
have told you about it in this way"
What does the way matter? That's
not what makes it 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 long, miserable silence
after that. Finally he said: Jeanne,
if 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 curtly.
Don't talk like that, Tom" She shiv-
cred, and drew away from him with
a little movement somewhere near
akin to disgust
He WINGED at it, and Redeemed.
Then, in voice that sounded curious
ly 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-
fused But would you have shuddered
and shrunk away from me-like that?"
did / shudder and shrink away?"
she asked II didn't know it. /
wasn't angry: I'm not now. But
but that was terrible thing you
asked of me"
Would it have struck you as hor-
rible," he persisted. IF had asked it
q month ago?"
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