The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-11-01

one September evening their farewell pilgrimage to the ridge.
 That evening John spent great deal of care over his toilet.
 He drove to the home of Silas Hicks where Haig, wisely avoiding the hos pitality of the hotel, had his rooms Somewhat to his dismay, he was in- formed that Haig had discovered some mysterious errand requiring his atten- tion, had departed a half hour earlier and had left word that he would later meet John at their Mecca.
 That's funny muttered John as he drove away. He strongly suspected the validity of Haig's errand and de bdted seriously the advisabi1ity of turn ing back and sending his farewells by note, pleading as excuse for his non appearance some unexpected business matter. He solemnly assured himself that he was fool, both for having da11ied with u6happiness all summer and for going now on journey that could only intensity futile 1ongings.
 He sustained the indictment by con t1nuing his journey. When he found Katherine, they stroIled, Katherine chatting unconcernedly, to seat in retired corner of the grounds-only the fact would not have been significant to John-where she had sat so long after her talk with Warren Blake.
 She leaned back in one end of the seat. He sat at the other, as far away from her as he. could, half facing her. She was not really beautiful-her fea- lures were too firm for that-yet even another than John might have been excused for thinking her so in the softening light of the rising moon- Only her eyes, softly lustrous in the pale light, marked her suppressed ex- citement.
 s'Do you reafize,'' she said, ''this is the first time we've been alone this summer? You have really managed it very awkwardly." As though she had not done all the managing!
 He had nothing to say.
 "Am I such an ogress, or have you been afraid that I'd propose to you again?'
 "I haven't been fool enough to take that seriously he said quickly. "And Pm old enough to know. the danger of playing with fire. At least," he added, 'T ought to have known it.''
 He could not help thinking of the months to come when, with less en- grossfng tasks to take his mind from che ache, he must renew the loneliness, grown more poignant, of the last win ter. He wondered now at his weak ness in letting himself, despite his knowledge of her and of what she l meant to him, be drawn again within 1 the circuit of her charm.
 He became aware that she was l speaking, with that amazing courage l which was always hers.
 CT am sorry,'' she said s'But | haveu't been fair to you. The things l father works for are what appeal to | me, not the things you dream of. | The prestige, the power, the knowl- | edge that I belong to the men who are l conquering. not dreams or ideals, count | with me. It isn'f very pretty, is it, | from your point of view? But it's | true. IT could wish it were different. Last summer it was different was trying to decide what I wanted. I-I | have always been more or less in love with you ever since can remember. And saw you were beginning to care | ' unsexed myself pursued, to learn whether you were what I wanted. I | tried to believe, to make you believe. that I could have you and the rest. | And l don't greatly blame myself for | that. Because am woman must I l sit rassively by and wait for happi- ness to come? WAS drifting between two ideals, but-struggling against it, of course-toward you. Do you know it's your fault IJdidn't drift further You wouldn't take me. Tou made a mistake the night of that rally, being | 10 fnical in your notions of poor mans honor. You ought to have taken me in your arms and made me go to you. should have gone-gladly-i faithfully too. But you wouldn't"
 He listened unresponsive to her words that, halting sonAeumes, fell in low, measured tones with 8 curious, underlying regretfulness.
 ''Now it is too late. I've had time to think, to weigh you against the other things. Last winter taught me how much they mean to me. And I find you-wanting. This summer has not | changed that. What you ask costs too much"
 tI ask nothing"
 ''True! forget-you ask nothing. Last summer you need net have asked.