The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1914-06-06


InSs. legally s1soYs q hSIp 6sr 1sak
the best OF things Ii her own Wy. 1.
There was no real concee1isb of her
reserve-no sacrifice OF thu feminine
privilege Of prompt and complete With
draWal. II he had struck q fafsA note
he knew t1nat she would havs turned
frigid in an instant
It was on their return TO the house;
1 that the climax came. leaving him
strangely shaken. Their course took
them past q tiny cantina. Frightened
by 9: drunken brAwl within. she picked
up her skirts and fed into the dark
ness, Kirk stumbling along behind her.
At: last che stopped out OF breath, and
he overlook her.
You mustn't run through these dark
alleys" he cried sharply. You'll
T break your neck" Half impatient 1t
this historical behavior, he seazed her
by the arm. 4. ..$ fs
"Oh, I'm 90 frightened!" she breath
ed, and he felt her tremble She lifted
her white face, ana 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 It 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 q woman and he 4 man. AS for
her, she offered no resistance, made no
sign beyond startled sigh as their
lips came together. <. y: III
But, impuisive as his action had
been, 1t was no more sudden than his
recoil. He released her and stepped
back, crying: ~ =.
"Oh, my God! II didn't mean that.
| Forgive me- Please" She said moth
| ing, and he stammered desperately
again: youth hate me now, of course,
| but don't know what ails me. I for
got NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. It was
unpardonahle, and ought to be shot"
He started OF down the blind street,
his whole body cold with apprehension
| and self disgust. - -
do you. intend to leave nee here in
the middle Of this''-
mo, no! OF course not. I'm ratified,
that's all. I've just got 4 eowardly
desire to fee 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- =
1--WE won't speak Of it now. Try
to compose yourself and ind our lodg-
ing place." -.
"Why, yes, Of course. I'll see that
you're fixed up comfortably, and then
I'll get out" Ian
ooh, you mustn't leave mev she
cried in panic. II couldn't stay in
that awful place alone" She drew q
little nearer to- him, as If demanding
his protection. A wave Of tenderness
swept over him. She was just girl,
after all, he reflected. .
TT wont leave you: TIL stay near
you," he stammered.S -. s.
I II won't believe that you could have
taken me for the. kind .cof woman
Z Who -: - =.
j q .:e:No, nor he cried in. an anguish Of
self reproach: 81 was a feol''-
4 NO." she said. Il don't-I couldn't
I bear to think that Perhaps was
partly to- blame But didn't think
I: ought to have known: that no man
can really be trusted. But I thought
our friendship was so beautiful, and
now you've spoiled it, 49,
! ':Don't say that!" exclaimed Kirk.
"say you'll forgive me some time
But instead of answering him direct
" she proceeded in the same strain,
probing his wounded self respect to the
quick, making his ofcense seem blacker
! every moment: -. -
| : Although he assured her over and
| over that he had simply followed the
irresponsible, unaccountable impulse OF
a moment-that he had regarded hel
| only as the best of friends and re-
spected her more than he could say
;. she showed him no mercy. The snnelan.
| choly, regretful tone she adopted wal
ten times worse than anger, and BY
the time they reached the inn where
| they had dined he was sunk in tn
depths Of self assessment.
| In reply to his knock an old woman
came to the door and sieepily admit
| ted them. Edith said good night and
! quietly entering, closed the door be
hind her. !, =..%
Kirk experienced sudden desire *
escape To remain where he was sim
ply. prolonged his humiliation. But evi
IDENTIFY he could not desert Edith, III
| nat down upon the doorstep and gav'
himself up to bitter thoughts.
She was such a wonderful woman
he told himself; she had been such ,
true friend to him that he had beer
worse than criminal to lose her respect
And Cortlandt had been SO decent tt
him! It was significant that this gav,
him the most discomfort Of all. n,
had betrayed ] mans friendship, and
the thought was unbeArable. No pun
| ishrnanf n0a,ld rs ffA nAvSrA far that