Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1914-07-11
The Hollow
Is ; Of Her Hand
George Barr McCutCheOn

She stopped in dismay. for he was
laughing
And now do you know what think
of you, Miss Hetty Glynn?" he cried.
seizing her hands and regarding her
with a serious, steadfast CLEAN in his
eyes. You are the Quickest, sandiest
girl I've ever known. You are the
kind that heroines are made Of There
is nothing in what you've told me that
could in the least alter my regard for
you, except to increase the love
thought could be no stronger. VIII
you marry me, Hetty?"
She jerked her hands away, and
held them clenched against her breast
mol I cannot 1t is impossible,
Brandon. If I loved you less than
do. I might say yes. but-no. 1t Is i'm
possible"
His eyes narrowed. gray shadow
crept over his face.
There can be only one obstacle so
serious as all that" he said slowly
''You-you are already married"
MOI she cried. lifting her pathetic
eyes to his 1T isn't that. Oh, please
be good to mel Don't ask me to say
anything more Don't make 1t hard
for me, Brandon / love you'll love
you. To be your wife would be the
most glorious-No, no. I must not
even think of it. 1 must put it out
of my mind. There is a barrier. dear
est. We cannot surmount it. Don't
ask me to tell you, for / cannot. II
am so happy in knowing that you love
me, and that you still love me after
have told you how mean and shame
less l was in deceiving-''
He drew her close and kissed her
full on the trembling lips. She gasped
and closed her eyes, lying like one in
a swoon. Soft, moaning sounds came
from her lips. He could not help feel
ing vast pity for her, she was SO
gentle, so miserably hurt by some
thing he could not understand, but
knew to be monumental in its power
to Cypress.
Listen, dearest" he said, after a
long silence; '1 understand this much,
at least: you can't talk about it now.
Whatever it is, 1t hurts, and God
knows I don't want to make it worse
for you In this hour when 1 am so
| self1shly happy. Time will show US
| the way. 1t can't be insurmountable.
Love always triumphs. l only ask
you to repeat those three little words,
II love you," she murmured.
There. You are mine! Three
| little words bind you to me forever
1 will wait until the barrier is down.
| Then I will take you
THE barrier grows stronger every
day." she said. staring out beyond the
| tree-tops at the scudding clouds. 1T
never can be removed
| dow will foil
| thing?"
She hesttated long. Yes. before
| God Brandon, will tell you. Not now.
but-some day. Then you will see
| why-why / cannot She could not
| complete the sentence.
Il don't believe there is anything
| you can tell me that will alter my
| feelings toward you,'' he said firmly
The barrier may be insurmountable
| but my love is everlasting"
| Il can only thank you, dear, and
| love you with all my wretched heart
| You are not pledged to some one
else?"
| No"
That's all want to know" he said
! with a deep breath. 81 thought II
might be-Leslie-"
No, no." she cried out, and he
! caught a note of horror in her voice
Does he know this this
thing you can't tell me?" he demand
ed, a harsh note of jealousy in his
| voice.
She looked at him, hurt by his tone
Sara knows" she said. There Ii
no one else. But you are not to ques
ton her. 1 demand 1t of you"
81 will wait for you to tell me-" ht
Psaid gently