Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1914-03-26
At last she stopped out Of breath, tnt
hA nynrfnOk her

(
You mustn't run through these dark
alleys" he cried sharply. You'll
break your neck" Half Impatient at
this hysterical behavior, he seized her
by the arm.
"Oh. I'm SO frightened" she breath
ed, and he felt her tremble. She lifted
her white face. and her eyes were
luminous in the gloom.
Before he realized what he was do
ing his arms had closed around her
and his lips had met hers. 1t may
have been the romance of the night,
the solitude, the intoxicating warmth
of her breath. At any rate, he lost his
head and knew nothing save that she
was a woman and he II man. AS for
her, she offered no resistance, made no
sign beyond startled sigh as their
lips came together.
| But, impulsive as his action had
been. it was no more sudden than his
recoil. He released her and stepped
back. crying:
"Oh, my God! IL didn't mean that
Forgive me- Please" She said moth
ing, and he stammered desperately
again: You'll hate me now. of course
but 1 don't know what ails me- for
got myself you-everything 1t was
objectionable, and ought to be shot"
He started off down the blind street
his whole body cold with apprehension
and self disgust.
do you intend to leave me here i'm
the middle of this
mo. no. OF course not I'm ratified.
that's all. I've just got cowardly
desire to flee and butt my head against
the nearest wall. That's what ought
to do. don't know what possessed
me. don't know what you'll think of
me-
"We won't speak of 1t now. Try
to compose yourself and find our lodg
ing place"
"Why, yes. of course. I'll see that
you're fixed up comfortably and then
I'll get out"
"Oh, you mustn't leave mel. she
cried in panic. II couldn't stay in
little nearer to him, as II demanding
his protection. A wave of tenderness
swept over him. She was just girl.
after all, he reflected.
I'll won't leave you. I'll stay near
you," he stammered.
II won't believe that you could have
taken me for the kind Of woman
who
mo, not" he cried in an anguish Of
self reproach. II was fool
NO" she said, II don't-I couldn't
bear to think that. Perhaps ! was
partly to blame But 1 didn't think
ought to have known that no man
can really be trusted. But l thought
our friendship was so beautiful, and
now you've spoiled It."
Don't say that!" exclaimed Kirk
"Say you'll forgive me some time"
But instead of answering him direct
ly she proceeded In the same strain.
probing his wounded self respect to the
quick. making his offense seem blacker
every moment.
Although he assured her over and
over that he had simply followed the
irresponsible, unaccountable impulse of
moment-that he had regarded her
only as the best of friends and re-
spected her more than he could say
she showed him no mercy. The melan-
choly, regretful tone she adopted was
the time they reached the inn where
they had dined he was sunk in the
depths of self abasement.
In reply to his knock an old woman
came to the door and sleepily admit
ted them. Edith said good night and
quietly entering, closed the door be
hind her.
Kirk experienced n sudden desire to
escape To remain where lie was sim
ply prolonged his humiliation. But evi
IDENTIFY he could not desert Edith. lie
sat down upon the doorstep and gave
himself up to bitter thoughts.
She was such wonderful woman
he told himself; she had been such 9
true friend to him that he had beer
worse than criminal to lose her respect
And COrtlandt had been so decent to
him! 1t was significant that this gave
him the most discomfort of all. HI
had betrayed q mans friendship, ant
the thought was unbearable. No pun
ishment could be too severe for that!
When the first faint flush of dawI
stole over the hill crest behind him b.
rose to wander toward the water front
AS the harbor assumed definite form
he beheld launch stealing toward thu
village and ten minutes later greeted
Stephen Cortlandt as that gentleman
stepped out of the tender.
"Where's Edith?" eagerly demanded
! her husband
She's asleep. l found place fol
her.
Not at the sanitarium?"
| "No, no. One of these houses. Lord
I'm glad to see you! We'd begun tt
feel like real castaways. I've been III
: all night"
"what happened" 1t was plain tina
Mr. Cortlandt was deeply agitated.
"Our boatmen evidently got DRUM
, and pulled out. tried to get sail
boat. but there weren't any. and 1t wa
: too rough to try crossing with skiff.
, It took them but moment to reacl
the house. and soon the three wer
! back Mt the water front.
"What miserable night" Mrs. COrt
e landt complained. sitting a yawn. IS
thought you'd never come. Stephen!'
r 81 didn't get back to the Tiyol
n un+;I ,nidnioht and then I had trOull