Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1914-05-21

ing the sen where 1t Tapped the fo0n
dalton Of the city wall
Edith kept him waiting momen
before she descended, dressed for he
afternoon ride.
You got my note2s
"Yes. and l came straight from tn,
ofilce.s
Il suppose you know what 1t Is ahou
and ara wondering how I heard thu
news
what newsW
~Your engagement Sho laughed
With IN amusement that did not rims
quite true.
You're tho second one to speal
about that. I'm not engaged"
'Of course not. Don't think for 4
moment I believed w. was calling
OH some Spanish people this Afternoon
and heard the report. admit 1t was
q shock. When learned the details
kiHW ut once You ought to- he told he
fore 1t developed into something embar
risslng Come into the other room
there Is a breeze from tire water" Shs
led him into the parlor, from which thu
open windows, shielded now by drawn
shutters, gave egress to the rear porch
with Its chairs and hammock.
Dear, deaE You foolish toy. you're
always IN trouble. aren't YOU? You
really don't deserve to he helped. Why
you have avoided mo for weeks"
'.The new arrangement has swampetl
us with work have had no time to
go out"
"Indieed! You had time to run after
the first pretty Spanish face you saw
..You mean Miss Garavel9''
Yes Didn't you realize what yO,l
were dotng7'
Il rtx,iiztsi Whit WIS trying to Go.
E6 I comb understand better wflk
you ore talking about x knew bust
that this dnllculty IT,"
why. this silly engagement OF
yours. Don't pretend to be 50 stupid"
.llAmon Alfarez heard thai same re-
port and very cOnrteously invited me
to whit few minutes while he killed
me. It's tremendously fattcring to be
linked up with Miss Garavel. OF course
but haven't asked her to marry me.
"But you've seen her. You have
called Mt her house."
Sure! Twice, Mt the invitation of
the old gentleman. All the little Cara
webs were lined up like mourners."
.And you dined there last night Is
that all you hove seen Of herY''
-N-no I've seen hey at Las GAvan-
mas. That's why went bunting so
often"
AZ this confession which Kirk deliv-
9ed with sheepish reluctance. Mrs.
Cotla,sdt drew herself up With On ex-
pression Of anger.
-rtnn this has been going on for
ssle tilney- sbe gaed. "Mhy, Eiak.
yo1 peeer tod me-
why should ~"
Sfla finished ~ This unconscious brs,-
tx1ty. the afses a moment ran on
braveiy, "Hl3 Why did you let 1t 90 so
ar3 Why did you let them commn
pDa"
"Atn I ccuA1ltttetY.
Ter hook wAs half offended, half IN
cDulnlous. "An. yoN trying 60 DO dis
agreeable. or Is II possible you don't
know the meaning Of those Invitations
DO cali nnd to dine With the family. and
all thats Why, they expect you TO
marry her. II is all settled NOW, &C.
colding to tho Spanish custom The
whole town Is talking about its
Il hope you're not Joking" snid Kirk
"Jose! I'm knocked clear Off my
pins" A tremendous wave OF excite
ment enrgcd over him. $50 that's
meant last night when siA told me to
hok up"- He broke Off suddenly. Cor
Eilth's face had gone chalk white.
But Kirk. what about neY sllo
asked In q strained voice.
There was dMthliko silence in the
room.
-You CANE love her," said the wom-
nm. Why, she's only q child and
slsss-spantsh"
They stood mOtionless. f;cina each
athcg At ltss Kirk said gravely and
deliberately:
Yes. l love her better than anything
In the world. and want to marry her.
! could give up my country. my dad
anything for her"
Pressing her glovcd fingers to her
hmple+ sho turned her head blindly
from side TO side. whispering us If to
herself
What Will become of meY'
"pon'tF he cried in Il panic and cast
u hurried Look over his shoulders.
"Inuu lie overheard Where's Cort.
hndt1'
'As his club. suppose. l don't
know-I-don't care. You've been dis
honest with me, Kirk
Don't act this way" he ordered
roughly. I'm terribly fond Of you. but
! never Knew
You must have known"
Z knew nothing. chose not to
think. What l saw l forgot. sup
posed you merely liked me as liked
you"
You say you didn't know. Then
what about that afternoon In tho Jun
gle2 Oh. you're not blind You must
have seen n thousand times. Every
hour we've been alone together I've
told YOU and you let mo go OH bcliev-
ing pou cared. I hove 10 pride. !
an not ashamed. lt's too late fos
shame now. Why. even my husband
knows"
With IN exclamation no seized he.
~ tho arm. "You don't mean THAR"
BIO CRIED flercely. But she wrenche4l
herself away.
1yVlv 6O Won fh}rL I ynnr1n ,,,,,, -