The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1914-10-03
CHAPTER xviI-continued.

; CHAPTER xviI-continued.
1T did," he answered. But you
didn't invite 1t. You weren't the sort
of girl that needed to invite it-you
aren't that sort OF woman now!" Eyes.
no less than tongue, were eloquent OF
his admiration: but she was looking
away. But most women wouldn't be
20 ready to forgive. They would re-
member only hurt vanity. I'm at your
feet for your charity. I've seen little
Of II in my life."
Have you looked for it7'
NO. Nor had it Nor valued 1t
until now"
And nowr'
why now need It,"
Somehow the confession, an uncon-
0idered remark that. however, had the
ring Of sincerity impulsive sayings are
apt to have. seemed to establish even
more firmly their intimacy. 1t nerved
him to his next remark.
"Kazia, don't you think you could tell
me what has happened to you during
AL these years.!
You'll be disappointed" she began
abruptly. because there isn't much
and It's commonplace enough. l mar
IIted Jim and lived with him a year
Then left him. Not because he wasn't
kind-he was, in his rough way. But
he was shiftless and he drank too
much. He had no ambition and-I
wasn't happy with him, so left him.
though knew 1t hurt him"
"A woman can do that" he inter.
Irupted quickly.
Some women do It, you mean. I've
always been ashamed. though l never
went back to him Later. l got a d.
vorce. / went to live with Uncle
Roman. but Piotr. who had hated Jim,
made 1t 30 unpleasant l had to leave.
He hated me. too, l think"
Or loved you. in Piotr's peculiar
fashion. But 60 on"
After q while l found work in a
tobacco factory. rolling cigars. Not
the kind you smoke. but cheap vile
things. lit wasn't nice"
tered. You there-why-"
Il was one of many" she went on.
In two years was sick and in the
hospital, a heavenly place where there
was ventilation and nothing to do and
good things to eat l used to pray Id
never get we'll.
There isn't much more. didn't
have to leave the hospital. One Of
the internes took an interest. He had
influence and helped me to register as
a nurse. I've q knack for surgical
work. and since passed my examina-
ton I've always had cases. For the
rest. I'm not educated. I've merely
read a little. here and there, as I've
had time
That's all and not what you seemed
to expect. Just cruel selfishness In
the beginning and q little luck after
ward. Which is not the success you
worship"
But l see more than that. / read
between the lines" Long afterward
recalling this scene, he remembered
her quick questioning glance, but then
he gave 1t no thought. Il see the cour-
age to make fight, the will to rise
and being equal to the opportunity
when 1t came. And I've heard that
the really charitable are never so tn
themselves"
oh, II you will" She broke of
with a shrug. Let us talk OF some
thing else"
When at length he broke the silence.
his voice was a caress Il wouldn't
have you different What you've lost
Is nothing compared with what you've
gained"
She turned her heard slowly toward
him. For a long minute their eyes
held. Then with one accord they
looked away. Not the heart of a boy
OF twenty could have beaten more
violently.
As they drove on. the silence be-
came awkward. self-conscious. Neither
seemed able to break 1t.
Rounding q curve In the tortuous
driveway, they met a landau, a beau.
tifully enameled affair drawn by high
stepping horses in elaborate silver
mounted harness. In 1t sat two
women. They bowed to him. the
younger with a pointed smile.
Kaxia heard him mutter: Il had for
gotten!"
who was she?"
The older? That was Mrs. Thomas
Henley. OF whom you may have heard"
"Yesf But I meant the other"
That he answered In a dry con-
strained voice. was ME-. Mark Truitt."