The San Francisco call., 1913-11-24

and when I see you. like ,this-I wish
1 had never come here"
Say" said the boy. in slow won
der. you're a pretty girl. Mary, pret-
tier than any Of 'em that have
money"
He put his hand on her arm. The
girl drew away proudly.
Kenneth, Don't, To see you de-
grade yourself like this-it--it's too
hard.''
You like me, don't you. Mary?
Don't your" insisted Ken. with rising
feeling.
You know I do" said Mary Burk.
sadly
Il like you. tool I always-liked
youl / used to call you my little
sweetheart when we were kids. l
kissed you once. Do you remember"
THE INSULT
In his fevered veins mad blood
rioted and pounded from brain to
heart and back again. He felt con-
scious of only one mad desire in all
the world of cruel desires. He must
take this slim, alluring slip of a girl
in his arms. He must kiss her again.
His voice took on deep note-the
call OF primitive man to the woman
he would possess.
Kiss me now. Mary?'
Kenneth" The girl spoke in tor
ture.
Kenneth
she was pleading for more than
life
I'm no fool"
His voice was hoarse with emo
tion-and drink. He would not be
, thwarted now. He seized her trem-
bling arm. He drew the quivering
girl cIoser-cIOser.
"I know you didn't hate me-"
She was in his arms now. He
laughed in triumph.
You don't hate me. And want
you"
His lips sought hers.
.sKennethw commanded n stern
voice.
The half crazed boy turned and
faced-his fatheri
Kenneth Nelson's arms dropped sud
denly from the covering form OF his
prey. Shaken with sobs of shame and
agony, Mary Burk stumbled from the
room.
Then Charles Nelson walked grimly
| to his son and spoke bitterly:
"Kenneth! I am not a society man.
/ know nothing of the code of your
set. To be drunk is, I suppose. quite
proper. Is It also considered the part
of a gentleman to insult a girl whose
poverty has placed her in dependent
position In your own house?'
Shame for himself-unworthy son
of an unworthy father-sobered the
/ boy. He spoke abruptly
THE BOY ASHAMED
mo. I'm ashamed Of myself"
my boy!
The fathers manner changed-with
real warmth of affection he put his
hands on Kenneth's shoulders and
1 looked at him.
II am glad, my boy. Things can't
be as bad as feared Can't you ana
! Isget together, Ken?"
I'm all right said the boy, impa-
tiently. "Tve been drinking. or I
wouldn't have said word like that
to Mary Burk. It's not her fault II
things had been different she and I
would have been married"
"Different? How-different?"
'Oh--she's no money and no social
standing-no position now"
Charles Nelson snatched his hands
from the boys shoulders and stepped
back In deep disgust.
Good God!" said the father.
pooh! Nice row there would be II
I wanted to marry Mary Burk. Mrs.
| Charles Nelson, leader of society, has
other plans for her only sonl You
needn't look at me like that Mother
had it out with her six months ago."
your mother told this girl that:
Your mother, the servants tell me. Is
in her boudoir, dressing for the din
ner Of the season. Mary Burk as
well born as any OF us. Is probably
crying her heart out--in the servants
quarters"
YES" said the boy. with callous
Indifference.
i Yes! And still. knowing all this
i you dragged that girl into your arms
lsYou cuhi I'd ukestoathrashy youlv