Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1914-08-01

ne Bili TOse ~ me- IeEt anu HON6O
a bit away from him.
will you not be seated?" he In
vjted She shook her head. Re went
on: Il realize that some curious pur-
pose has brought you to see me, and
that you are agitated. Take your
time; l am now. as always, at your
service"
Don't" the sudden protest might
have been cry of physical pain Mr.
Van Vechten, | am wholly unworthy
of any gentleman's forbearance and
courtesy; the most ordinarily civility
from you but heaps humiliation upon
humiliation. l deserve nothing from
you but scorn and contumely That.
can endure; but Kindness" She was
unable to proceed.
At last Van Vechten was beginning
to comprehend the motive behind this
visit.
II you don't compose yourself" he
said pleasantly, I'VE are not likely to
/ arrive at any sort of understanding
Please drag a chair over close TO me-
| can't see you very well, you know;
nor can | observe all the niceties of
| 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 we'll enough, however,
to note that any reference to his pres
ent lneapacity hurt the girl. She did
not stir
If you don't" he supplemented. Il
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 a ludicrous side of the
/ whole affair. But as yet he had no
1 hint of how vitality serious it 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 eelf-con-
troll and began speaking with degree
of calmness.
Mr., Van Vechten, If somebody had
told me the story of what happened
! Tuesday afternoon about some woman
other than myself, / would have be-
! lieyed it too monstrous to be true"
But you did nothing" Van vechten
objected. You were in deadly peril;
/ the fellow was irresponsible"
Il could have brought you assist
ance, and | did not-deliberately. I
even kept the affair to myself not
mentioning it to living soul: except
that took measures to protect myself
| from future similar annoyance by that
| dreadful creature" In a sudden pas
sionate outburst, she sat upright MY
| God he might have murdered youi"
But he did not you see. Nor did
/ he injure 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
Ny name does not In the least mat.
ter she demurred. Il am despicable
creature who had the eTrontery to
hate you just because your name hap
pens to be Van Vechten"
That young gentleman pricked up
his ears st 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
thar have added nothing 70 its lus-
ter. yet neither have besmlrched IT.
nor allowed the clans gonfaion to TRAN
in the dust You see that my feelings
toward YOU are anything but harsh
and vtndictive. so why not tell me
about YOURSELF"
NO, mol am too full OF shame and
notification" she cried bitterly. II
owed it to my own mean. selfish.
heartless pride to humble and abase
myself before YOU. ! hated you. But
you are courageous, noble. high
minded gentleman If you knew-ev-
erything--"
Again she Vas unable 10 go on.
"Wh, not tell Eo-every thing" he
Fcayly urged
You would hate and despise me
more than ever"
he took ono of her hands in his
1T Is impossible that J should hate
or despise YOU. there is the very best
Of reasons why / could not. Ny ap
poarance is all against any cause ! +
might plead, but YOU are trembling
he abruptly broke on
u am utterly wretobed!' she
mcaned.
For once I'm his life. at }Sast. Van
Vechten was at e loss The girl was
so determined to humble herself. the
idea WAS SO repugn2nt TO his nice
sense @, fitness. and his attempts to
influence her were SO ineffective. that
tie Gvspsired of relieving the situation
She seemed unconscious OF the fast
that he still held he'll haad. and ~at