The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1914-10-15
The Ambition of Mark Truit
Aufhor Of
THE MAN HIGHER UP" his RISK
TO POWER" Etc.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Copyright. 1918. by The BObbsMerrin Company

But I'd have expected you to say that"
Her eyes fell again to the sewing.
"Kazia," he asked directly, after a
moment, has any one ever connected
you with my scandal"
She looked up quickly again. why,
no. How could they?"
"A mysterious woman has been men
toned. I've been afraid that every
one I've had to do with might be
smirched with me- didn't want you
OF all women-to be touched
DO you care so much about it ALP"
II wouldn't admit it to any one else.
But do care. Kazia."
She was silent, but the dark eyes
were very gentle.
He leaned forward and drew her to
him. He kissed her again and again.
For a long minute he held her so, in
silence. Insidious moment, throw
ing open the gate that he might peer
into a golden realm such as even this
Joseph had never dreamed!
You haven't said 1t, he broke the
silence.
That l love you? DO l need"
NO" He kissed her again. only
/ can't quite believe it yet. It's worth
going through all the trials and dis
appointments and ugliness-to have
this hour"
Much later-it did not seem long
he asked: "Kazia, when will you marry
me?"
She did not answer for long while.
Then she gently pushed him away and
spoke. slowly, as though all her
strength were needed to force out
each word
Il can not marry you"
You can not" He stared at her,
stunned.
She shook her head, mute.
But why? You are free"
81 am free-under the law. But
can not"
You love me, and yet"
II can not"
But why?" he persisted. You must
have some reason" Then he aroused
himself Though you may just as
well forget 1t. Do you think" he cried,
I've found a real enduring love only
to let it go?"
Il have a reason. L" She broke
off, looking away. Her hands clasped
tightly in her lap unclasped, then
went out in a little appealing gesture
as her eyes came back to him. 1T
isn't that l don't want to. II love
you. Butch, can't you understand?
How could the love endure the little
trials and frictions, the nearness, the
commonplaceness Of everyday life to-
gether?"
All! | wish you hadn't said that.
He was staggered for the moment; to
him her reason was not an empty one
But he went on firmly: THAT wouldn't
be true with us. It's never true where
there is a real love to smooth the
way And you and I've mustn't judge
by our past, because we've never
found the real love-until now"
"Yes, 1t is real. think it is real.
From her wistful voice he thought
he had shaken her. He pressed her
hard. "Of course, it is. Then, don't
you see"
mo, If it is real, then l can't
daren't-risk losing it. l haven't hao
much, ever, except this love-I mustn't
lose it. And you don't know-Im not
fine and clever and cultured, like-like
the women you've known. You'd see
the lacks" She was becoming in
coherent. "Oh, don't try to persuade
me. You only make it hard. I've been
thinking of this-and of when youC
come-so long! And / know"
But he did try to persuade her. AND
longing lent him eloquence, as he pic
tured for her their love, triumphant
over the starving years of separation
triumphing again over the vexatious
problem of daily intimacy.
Slowly it came to him that she
meant her refusal. He released hel
and drew back, so suddenly that she
swayed and almost fell.
Then II only means that you dom
love me. If you did, you WOULDN'T
| count the risk"
If you must believe that" she an
swersd sadly, you must But it ISM
true. If l could forget the risk,
shouldn't love you as l do"
He laughed harshly, and reaching
for his hat. turned toward the door
The dreamed love had gone the way
of his beautiful philosophy.
But at the door he looked back. She
was standing as he had left her, pale
in her eyes both fear and the glow o.
the flame he had lighted. The hand
held out to him in involuntary ges
ture, was trembling visibly.
"Why-do you go2"
But you said"
II didn't say wouldn't love you.
He laughed again. What is love-
by itself?"
I'VE could" pitifully she put fortf
the suggestion, I'VE could be friends.
"Friendsl I'm no bloodless poet.
want a whole love-"
Her hungering look was calling him
drawing him across the room to her
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