Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-22

"No!" NIinot bowed his head a know
must have looked rather silly of late; but
if you think | did the things I've done be-
cause | chose to, you're wrong. If YOU
think did them because l didn't love you,
you're wrong too. Oh, l.
"A1r. A1inott
a can't help it. l know it's indecently
soon-I've got to tell you just the same.
There's been SO much in the way-Im wild
to say it now. | love you'll
The water breaking on the ancient stones
below seemed to be repeating "Sh-sh!' but
Minot paid no heed to the warning.
"1've cared for you, he went on, lever
since that morning on the train when we
raced the razorbacks-ever since that Won
derfu1 ride over a God-forsaken road that
looked like Heaven to me! And every time
since I've seen you I've known that I'd
come to care more"
The girl stood and stared thoughtfully
out at the soft blue sea. Minot moved
closer, over those perilous, slippery rocks.
a know it's an old story to you,' he went
on, "and that I'd be fool to hope that
could possibly be anything but just another
man who adores you. But-because | love
you so much"
SHE turned and looked at him. "And in
spite of allthis, she said slowly, @from the
first you have done everything in your power
to prevent the breaking off of my engage
ment to Harrowby."
"Yes; but
weren't you overly chivalrous to rival?
Wouldn't what-what you are saying be
more convincing if you had remained neu-
tral?"
Al know. I can't explain it to you now
It's all over, anyway. 1t was horrible while
L. Ill. 1..%
ing to work again for your marriage to any
body-except one man,-the man who is
standing before you-who loves you-loves
you-'
He stopped; for the girl was smiling.
And it was not the sort of smile that his
words were entitled to.
I'm sorry, really" she said; @but l can't
help it. All l can see now is your trium-
plant entrance last night-your mastery
exposure of that silly necklace-your clever
destruction of every obstacle in order that
narrowly and might be married on Tues
day. In the light of all that has happened,
how can you expect to appear other
than
4FooIsh9 You're right. And you
couldn't possibly care-just a little
He stopped, embarrassed. Poorly chosen
words, those last. He saw the light of recol-
lection in her eye.
a should say he went on hastily, isn't
there just faint CLEAN of hope-for me-
"If we were back on the train" she said,
3and all that followed could be different
and Harrowby had never been-I might
@You might-yes-"
Al might not say what I'm going to say
now; which is, Hadn't we better return to
the hotel?"
am sorry" remarked AIinot, @sorry
had the bad taste to say what have at this
time; but if you knew and could understand
which you can't of course-yes-let's go
back to the hotel-the shortest way"
He turned, and looked toward the towers
of the De la Pax rising to meet the sky
seemingly million miles away. So Peary
might have gazed to the north, setting out
for the Pole.
They went back along the ramparts, over
the dry moat, through the crumbling gates.
Conversation languished. Then the ancient
graveyard, CHASTITY in the gloom. After that
the long, lighted street of humble shops.
And the shortest way home seemed million
times longer than the longest way there.
In the hotel lobby she held out her hand.
considering what you have told me of
Harrowby,' she sale, Il shall be leaving
for the North soon. Will you look me up
in New York;