The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-04-30

laughed, pulling off one glove.
Her white fingers grasped the
silver button-hook and flashed In
and out of the velvet shoes. knit
ting the little shoe to the foot In
no time. He watched the process
in humble wonder, and she would
not have been a human girl not
to have been flattered with his
interest and admiration.
They really felt quite we'll ac-
quainted when they finally gath
cred up their belongings and
started down the road. Gordon
summoned all his ready wit to
brighten the walk for her, though
he found himself again and again
on the brink to referring to his
Washington life.
He had decided that he must
not tell her who he was until he
could put her in an independent
position, where she could get
away from him at once IL she
chose. If all went we'll, they
might be able to catch Pittsburg
train that night and be In Wash
ington the next day. Then, his
message delivered, he would tell
her the whole story.
They went gaily down the road,
the girls pale cheeks beginning to
flush with the morning air and
the exercise. She was not natur-
ally delicate, and her faint the
night before had been the result
OF a series of heavy strains on
heart burdened with terrible fear.
Down by the brook they paused
to rest. Gordon arranged the
suit-cases sor her to sit down
upon, then climbed down to the
brookside and gathered a great
bunch of forget-me-nots, blue as
her eyes. and brought them to
her.
She fastened them in the breast
of her gown.
They exactly match your
eyes" he exclaimed involuntarily,
and then wished he had not
spoken, for she flushed and paled
under his glance, until he felt he
had been unduly bold.
. "a Her heart had thrilled strange
ly as he spoke. and she was vexed
with herself that il should be so.
A man who had bullied and
Threatened her for three terrible
months and forced her to marry
had no right to a thrill of her
heart nor a look from her eyes,
be he ever SO kind for the mo-
ment. .t
I, Are you offended at what
said?" he asked earnestly. THE
words said themselves without
my stopping to think whether
you might not like it. VIII you
forgive me-"
"Oh," she said, lifting her for
get-me-not eyes to his, II am not
offended. There is nothing to
forgive. 1t was--beautiful!"
Then his eyes spoke the COM
plimcnt over again, and the thrill
started anew I'm her heart.
ut was very true" he said in
a low, lover-like voice.
"Oughtn't we to hurry on to
catch our train" said Celia, sud
denly springing to her feet. I'm
quite rested now" She felt If
she stayed there another moment
she would yield to the spell he
had cast upon her.
The man got to his feet and
reminded himself that this was
another mans promised wife to
whom he had been letting his soul
go out.
Don't let anything hinder you!
Don't let anything hinder you!"
suddenly babbled out the little
brook, and he gathered up his
suit-cases and started on.
Altogether, II was a happy
walk, and far shorter than either
had expected. One street COM
prised the village. The early viii
lage hangers looked at them dis
interestedly.
"Hed a runaway" asked one.
"Oh, no." laughed Gordon.
1--WE didn't travel with horses"
"Hed puncture, then" an
nounced the village wiseacre,
shifting from one foot to the
other.
wal, you come the wrong d.
rection to git help" said another
languid listener. Thur amt no
garridge here. You'd ought to "a
turned back to Ashville."
"Is that SOP" said Gordon in
terestedly. Whats the next town
on ahead and how far?"
Sugar Groves two mile fur
ther on, and Millions five. They've
got garridge and a restaurant to
Milton, but that's only sence the