The Detroit times., 1913-03-01
HOW Mrs Peaches Lost flesh q
And Her Heart. IN 1
III " H HE!6lE% m.
Maria thompson DdXihSs IA,.1I N
Author Of Miss Selma Lue: Rose of y lsGySsyxe.V
Old Harpefh. etc. VX3
= Copyright ~llssu y :

heaven shone from his eyes and he
opened his TINS 10 me with just one
word.
,'Herc?"
/ went.
He held me gently for a hatf-sec-
ond, and then, with sob which
felt rather THIN heard. he crushed
me to him and stopped my breath
with his lips ctn mine. | understood
things then that never had before.
and felt that wise guardian man
angel take his fln,gers from mine and
leave me safe at last. l raised my
hand and pressed 1t against Johns
wet lashes until! he could let me
speak end was iOelted into his very
breast itself.
Molly" he said when enough
tenderness had cSane back into his
arms to let me BREATHE. you have
almost killed me-"
YOU" exclaimed, crowding still
closer, or at least trying to- Its
not you; it's I that am killed, and
you did it. I know Cou don't really
want me. but can't. help that. I'd
rather you'd do the suffering with
me than to do 1t mySelf away from
you. I'm so hungry end thirsty for
you that-that can't diet any
longer. put the casc the strongest
way ! knew how and avt swooning.
maddening. luscious re;tnlt.
Want you, Molly!p' he almost
sobbed. and l felt his nart pounding
hard next to my shoulder.
vrvtt y,
more spirit than breath, left in me-
II refuse TO believe you are as stupid
as l am. and anybody with even an
ordinary amount OF brains must have
seen how hard l was fighting for you.
feel sure left no stonk unturned.
Some OF them l can already think
back and see myself tuggfng at, and
1t makes me hot all over. I'm fool
ish, and always was, SO Fms to be ex-
cused for acting that awful way. but
you are to blame for letting me do 1t.
I'm going to be your punishment for
life for not having been Stern and
stopped me. You had better stop me
some now anyway. for II gp on low
ing you as / have been for the last
few minutes it will make you. un,om-
Portable"
Peaches" he said. after he had
hushed me with another brOk EN- dose
OF love. as large as he Thought
could stand could have' stood
more.-'I am never going to DELL you
how long have loved you. hut that
day you came to me all in a nutter
with Al Benefits better in your hand
1T is going to take you lifetime to
settle for. You were mine --and
Bits. How could you--but women
don't understand" ] felt him sRud-
der in my arms as held him CLOSE.
J was repaid for all those tires Ome
exercises | had taken by the strength
to crush him against my breast al
most as hard as he crushed me. Our
strength was terrific, dun
gerous to life and ribs, out
heavenly.
Don't women know, John?" !
managed to ask softly in memory CT
q like question he had put to r1H,
across that bread and jam with tihe
rose a-listening from the dark.
What brought me to consciousness
was his fumbling with the buttonS
the WALSH VI tudt DiuC
relict Of a sentiment. | had fastenoA
but one, and the lace had got caught
on his sleeve buttons.
"Please don't button me into his
possession" laughed under his chin.
I'm still scared to death Of him. and
you haven't hid me yeti"
Molly" he asked. this time with
a heayen-laugh, where could you be-
more effectually hid from Al Bennett
than in my arms?"
spent ten minutes telling Billy
what hippopotamus really looks
like as I put him to bed. but later.
much as I should have liked to.
couldn't consume that horrible din
ner that had helped prepare ut the
Johnsons, in the shelter OF Johns
arms, and had to face Alfred. Ruth
Chester was there. and she faced him
too.
A man that can't be happy with a