Mexico Missouri message., 1914-05-28

The girl rose 10 hcr rect ana moved
bit away from him.
will you not be seated" he in.
vited. She shook her head. He went
on. Il realize that some curious pur.
pose has brought you to see me, and
that you are agitated. Take your
time; am now. as always, at your
service"
DON'T" the sudden protest might
have been a cry Of physical pain. MIR.
Van Vcchten. ! am wholly unworthy
Of any gentlemans forbearance and
courtesy; the most ordinary ciyility
from you but heaps humiliation upon
humiliation. ! deserve nothing from
you but scorn and contumely. That,
can endure; but kindness-?" She was
unable to proceed.
At last Van Yechten was beginning
to comprehend the motive behind this
visit.
II you don't compose yourself" he
said pleasantly. we are not likely to
arrive at any sort OF understanding.
| Please drag a chair over close to me
! cant see you very we'll, you know;
I behavior with which | would like to
celebrate this event and make you
welcome. For. believe me, nobody
ever crossed my threshold who was
more welcome"
! He could see well enough, however.
! 10 note that any reference TO his pres
Ont incapacity hurt the girl. She did
uot stir
III you don't" he supplemented. 81
shall be Obliged to make the effort
anyhow"
| At once she brought a chair over
close to him and sat down. Support
! ing her chin with one hand, she rest
! ed the elbow upon an arm of the chair.
! She was so winsome and pretty. and
albeit so distressed, that Van Vechten
wanted more than anything else to
make her see ludicrous side of the
whole affair. But as yet he had no
hint of how vitality serious II was to
her; at present her intense nature
was much too earnest to be swayed
by any attempt at levity, or any play
Of his cynical humor.
Pretty soon she gained her self-con-
troll, and began speaking with a degree
of calmness.
"Mr. Van Vechten, II somebody had
told me the story Of what happened
| Tuesday afternoon about some woman
other than myself. would have be-
lieved 1t too monstrous to be true"
But you did nothing" Van vechten
objected. You were in deadly peril;
the fellow vas irresponsible"
Il could have brought you assist
ance, and | did not-deliberately. I
even kept the affair to myself, not
mentioning it to a living soul; except
that took measures to protect myself
from future similar annoyance by that
dreadful creature" In sudden pas
sionate outburst. she sat upright. my
God.-he might have murdered you!"
But he did not, you see. Nor did
he iniure you. So why talk about It?
! can think OF a thousand pleasanter
topics-yourself. for example. Sup
pose you tell me who you are?"
The dark eyes were regarding him
tragically.
My name does not in the least mat.
ter" she demurred. 81 am e despicable
creature who had the effrontery to
hate you just because your name hap
pens to be Van Vechten."
That young gentleman pricked up
his ears at this. He quickly inter.
posed
That being the case, seem to be
more concerned than you are willing
to admit Why should you hate the
name Van Vechten? | must confess
that l have added nothing to its lus
ter. yet neither have l besmlrched IL
nor allowed the clane gonfalon to trail
In the dust. You see that my feelings
toward you are anything but harsh
and yindictiye; so why not tell me
about YOURSELF"
- mo, mol am too full OF shame and
modification" she cried bitterly. 'r
j. owed it TO my own mean. selfish
. heartless pride to humble and abase
myself before you. | hated you. Blu
:. you are courageous. noble, high
d minded gentleman. II you knew-ev
r erything-"
Again she was unable to go on.
Il why not tell me-everythIng? HI
gently urged.
(. You would hate and despise m,
II more than ever"
e He took one OF her hands ia his.
1T is impossible that should hat,
q or desplse you; there is the very bea
It Of reasons why / could not. My az
n pearance IL all against any cause
h might plead, but-you are trembliug!
ID he abruptly broke of.
Il am utterly wretched!" sh
Inoaned.
At For once in his life. at least, Val
At Vochten was at loss. The girl wa
so determined to humble herself, tn
sr idea was SO repugnant TO his mic
/. sense Of fitness. and his attempts d
'e influence hsr were so ineffective, tina
IS he despaired OF relieving the situation
10 She seemed unconscious OF the fac
d that he still held her hand. and %