Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1914-02-18

been, it was no more sudden than his
recoil. He released her and stepped
| back, crying:
ooh, my God! II didn't mean that.
Forgive me. Please" She said moth.
ing, and he stammered desperately
again: you'll hate me now, of course,
but l don't know what ails me. l for
| got myself-yOu-ever It 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 in
the middle of this
mo, no! OF course not I'm ratified,
that's all. I've just got a cowardly
desire to fee and butt my head against
the nearest wall. That's what ought
to do. 1 don't know what possessed
me. 1 don't know what you'll think of
me-"
eve won't speak Of it 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
ooh, you mustn't leave mev' she
cried in a panic II couldn't stay in
that awful place alone" She drew
| little nearer to him, as if demanding
his protection. wave of tenderness
swept over him. She was just a girl,
after all, he reflected.
"I-I won't leave you. I'll stay near
you," he stammered.
81 won't believe that you could have
taken me for the kind of woman
Who
mo, nor he cried in an anguish of
self reproach. 81 was fool''-
NO." she said, 81 don't-I couldn't
bear to think that. Perhaps l was
partly to blame. But l didn't think.
I ought to have known that no man
can really be trusted. But 1 thought
our friendship was SO beautiful, and
now you've spoiled it."
Don't say thatv 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
a 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
ten times worse than anger, and by
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 a sudden desire to
escape To remain where he was sim
ply prolonged his humiliation. But evi-
IDENTIFY he could not desert Edith. He
sat down upon the doorstep and gave
himself up to bitter thoughts.
She was such a wonderful woman,
true friend to him that he had been
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. He
had betrayed mans friendship, and
the thought was unbearable. No pun
ishment could be too severe for that!
fire fain nj H11SI Of n
stole over the hill crest behind him he
rose to wander toward the water front.
AS the harbOr assumed definite form
he beheId q launch stealing toward the
village and ten minutes later greeted
Stephen COrtlandt as that gentleman
stepped out of the tender
where's Edith?' eagerly demanded
her husband.
'Shes asleep. l found a place for
her
mot at the sanitarium?"
"No. no. One of these houses. Lord.
I'm glad to see you! We'd begun to
feel like real castaways. I've been up
all night
"What happened?" 1t was plain that
NIL COL WAS u6CIPlH SS4JdeCO.
"Our boatmen evidently got drunk
and pulled out. l tried to get sail
boat. but there weren't any. and it was
too rough to try crossing with a skiff.
It took them but a moment to reach
the house, and soon the three were
back at the water front.
"What a miserable night Mrs. COrt
landt complained. sitting yawn. 81
thought you'd never come, Stephen
81 didn't get back to the Tivoli
until midnight. and then ! had trouble
in finding q boat to hiring me over
81 suppose they were alarmed at the
hotel?'
81 said nothing about it, he re-
turned. quietly at which his wife's
face flushed Selling the first oc-
casion. he exclaimed. in a low voice:
"God! How unfortunate-at this time