The daily sentinel., 1913-05-21

nifty PIN and great great many letters"
"'D Die erste Liebe' he quoted. under his breath
81 frightfully young"
"Being ancient now?"
"Im woman now"
"And a queen-every inch of you"
The hand strayed farther, and rested upon his
sleeve. Il didn't come home until was seventeen.
and by that time you were prominent young law.
yer weren't you? Do you remember the night
homer"
Mckinney looked down at the hand upon his sleeve
and looked away from it again. He had grown slight
iy I~der P2ler .-.,,-o.,,.- ,-.. ,u ,s o.. ..,..,
meet you; of course, l remember. You had long
blue coat and hat with big bow. You had man
dolin case under arm, and bulldog at your
heels. You said Justinl Me voici I've come backl'
And / said"
Yvonne took up the thread where he dropped it.
into abrupt and frowning silence.
And you said Great Scott, Yvonnei I'd
have known you-youre perfectly beautiful"
81 was going to omit that part of the memoirs -
your bushes"
81 love it." said Yvonne. "and I'm not blushing-
see!"
He scarcely glanced at the aluring face she tilted
upward in the reflection of the fire.
She went on again after moment, If to herself:
81 saw you often that winter, all that year. You
had time for me-then-even though you were busy
and successful. You used to send vioets and
roses and books. Grand mere and your mother are
such great friends, it only natural, I suppose
You got quite fond of me. didn't you. JustinH"
He repeated her words in a sort of forced dulness
Eyes, Yvonne, quite fond of you"
81 know" said Yvonne Il know. You used to tell
me everything about your work. and about the poll
ticians, and you horribly ambitious. You didn't
care for society but wasn't even bud. I wasn't
tout-and ed-to-thnk-you-cared-f d-for-me."
He said nothing in answer, though she waited
obvious space so she went on again. softly, her hand
still resting his sleeve
Then, one night grand mere was i'll. was fright
ened. | sent for you, you brought the doctor, and
when the doctor had gone l cried, in the window
seat in the library-do you remember. JUSTINE"
Why said Mckinney, with controlled bitterness
SHOULD remember?"
because you kissed me-" said Yvonne more softly
still.
She sat quiet, and the color streamed into her face
that he would not turn to look at.
had not forgotten that" said Mckinney at length,
unsmiling. "but hoped you had"
Why shouldn't my memory be as good as yours?"
"There is so much in your life"
Nothing big that"
Mckinney shook his head wearily.
you haven't told all the story Why not finish It
up?"
81 don't know the rest-it broke there. thought
you cared" her voice faitered with deep emotion,
81 know you cared-but you never said so-you never
spoke of it again.
"And why not?" he demanded instantly, why
not?" Then he had himself again in hand, and spoke
more slowly, but with q passion almost cruelty
curbed. ut the next day went up to the plan
tation-do you remember that. Yvcnne? Riding from
the house to the levee caught in drencbing
rain. was i'll that night and that only the be-
ginning. cripple's cripple, whether he's born to
it. or has it thrust upon him by means of inlamma-
tory rheumatism. 1 haven't had many good days
since 1t isn't likely shall again, naturally. took
the gift the gods sent me- Naturally. said nothing,
"As you could walk you took up your work
again." Yvonne reminded him, trife unsteadly.
Naturally" he repeated, with dogged emphasis.
Then love isn't as big as work."
at isn't the thing-that's ALL"
"You could go back to your work-but-the other.
you just left-broken Off
81 had nothing to offer"
"or was it. perhaps" she asked hesitantly, paling.
"that you didn't want to offer it?"
Mckinney, turning suddenly in his chair, covered
the hand his sleeve with his own, crushingy, then
released it. His smile was bravey humorous.
Little Delilah," he said very gently. go home!"
Yvonne did not answer him at
81 waited and waited" she said, "and each time
saw you, | thought, He will speak now,' bu. you
never did"
Because hadn't any right"
Some of the slipped from her lap to the floor
and lay there. She leaned forward, elbow her
knee, cuddling her chin in one soft palm.
'Yvonne" said Mckinney, quietly, don't you know
/ can't ask you to marry me?"
"If you'll just say something else" she murmured,
you won't have to. I'll ask you"
Don't you know can't even say that7"
won't, you meant"
Very wel-won't, then. The doctors don't seem
able to do anything for I'll probably be cripple
and invalid all my life You've got the world wide
open before you. You're beautiful and young and
you have an enormous capacity for happiness. Do
you think I'd let you tie yourself to broken stick?
No my dear, love you rather too well for that"
He stopped short.
"Then you do love mel" cried Yvonne. a little
breathless.
When Mckinney would not answer, she took her
fallen to the floor, laying them with the rest Her
eyes full of tears.
"And stl-still you advise me to marry the king."
81 think you would be WISE" said Mckinney, stead
lily. Hes good fellow, Winchester"-the words
cut grim white lines about his mouth.
"You won't marry me?" she asked very low She
stopped her face to the shielding flowers
mo, dear
Then Yvonne slipped to her knees beside his chair.
hiding her face upon the broad leather arm of 1t, all
the spilling riotous crimson down the white
and silver of her gown. She stretched out slim
bare arm to Mckinney and her fingers were cold.
"If didn't know you cared she said slowly be-
tween deep-drawn breaths. "if didn't know in my
soul you were as lonely without l without
you. I'd die before I'd say it. But, Justin, If you
don't marry me, shall never be happy. my whole
life longl"
ut wouldn't be fair" he answered huskiy, but he
held her fingers close.
IF you don't, I shall be an old maid" sobbed
Yvonne, desperately "and that will Just about kill
and mo