Western Kansas world., 1915-01-02

She drew the reins tant
"A real philanthropy. he assented,
grinning. as the horse lumberingly re-
sumed its journey
Mark swung slowly along homevard-
He smiled pityingly- He had read
Alright the new interest in Unity's face
that Of the condemned prisoner who
has heard rumor of reprieve- He was
sorry for her And pity-we have 1t
from the poets-is loves poor relation
Mark regained a measure of strength
He discarded one crutch and began
each day to take a few steps expert
mentally with no support but q cane
He spent many beautiful idle hours,
alone or with Richard Courtney, driv-
ing his new horse among the hills
Sometimes -often-Unity was with
him on these drives Tongues clacked
according to prophecy. But Mark did
not care And Unity did not care.
Mark fell placidly and easily in love
with Unity again At least, the while
protesting. he decided that it must be
love
But the protest was half-hearted-
He wanted to love.
Are ye goin' to stay here in
Bethel?" Simon broke a long silence
to inquire. one rainy evening.
i don't know" Mark answered out
of a brown study. off his guard. But
he added quickly: Yes, 1 do know.
I'm going to stay
Then, what are ye goin' to dot"
L don't need to do anything. I've
got twenty thousand dollars. Thatn
last me-in Bethel
Simon shook his head gravely. Ye
somethin'. An there's nothin' to do
here-yet-"
And never will be-"
Mebby not. All the more reason
why that Mister Henley's right"
Would you have me go back to
the city?"
Yes"
You don't know what you're say
ing Mark began irritably. Il could
never take a pen pusher's job. The
mills are all 1 know. And that life
you don't know it. 1t costs too much
1t takes it out of you, drives you like
a slave It-Tm not fit for it now.
It-oh, let's not talk about it,
But Simon had more than one of
Marks problems on his mind
Are ye." he went on. '-goin' to
marry Unity Martini"
Il don't know. 1 suppose So"
IF ye don't find out purity soon."
remarked Simon most surprisingly.
she'll do your KNOWN fur ye.
wouldn't
Mark stopped at a window, looking
frowningly out at the sheets of rain
that dashed across the square of light
Simon must have felt deeply on the
subject. for he repeated. Il wouldn' 3"
No. said Mark testify, Il suppose
you wouldn't / don't know. But If /
do it, 1t will be with my eyes open"
Which seems a most unloverlike say
ing
There was an evening when he was
alone with Unity on Squire Martins s
front porch 1t was one of the soft
languorous nights that sometimes
como to Bethel in early September.
They talked little and that in low
tones.
Once he leaned toward her. He had
to peer closely to make out her look
OF content
do you know" he remarked, you
ought to be glad 1 came back?'
Indeed! And why?"
Have you looked in the mirror
lately? When 1 first came you looked
well, cranky and as though you
didn't care whether school kept or
not"
We'll, of all the conceit! 1 sup
pose you take all the credit" Thus
she admitted certain improvements.
And why not?" he laughed lazily.
when you come right down to it,
Unity, you never really, definitely
threw me over"
1T isn't too late"
Yes, it Is too late"
She said nothing. But when he
reached up to take her hand he found
it tightly clenched little ball
Unity, do you remember the drive
we took that Sunday before 1 went to
the city,"
Il think 1 do
She thinks she does!" he apostro-
phized the night 4 have a scheme.
Tomorrow, right after dinner, I'm go
ing to drive down here for you Unity,
let's have the Sunday over again
in every particular
Again she was silent
You don't agree?"
Tin not sure"
That you love me?"
She shook her head That I want
to marry you"
But when he drew her down and
kissed her, she did not resist Wait,
he whispered fatuously, until tomor
Although what virtue the morrow
would hold he did not say. He prob
ably did not guess
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