Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1915-02-27

room to heaven Thsre had even beea
. period In that far-on. Innocent girl
hood when she had thought of 1t a.
a beautiful restful haven. to which.
some day when he should have tired
of the greedy city and its grind. her
lover might bring her. Always, 1t
seemed. she had needed and wanted
haven II only he had brought her
then. what might have been saved!
What might have been saved! But
1 mustn't think OF that"
From down narrow lane she caught
a glimpse of the river, smiling in the
sunlight 1t beckoned to her and she
obeyed. turning her steps upstream
A thick grove of oaks and chestnuts
shut her of from the village and she
was alone with the river and forest
River and forest held many memories
for her.
Hours passed. A few feecy, tum-
bling clouds f1oated over her. Heavier
and less silvery masses appeared over
the western horizon The wind fresh
ened- She did not notice And
suddenly she knew that she was not
alone
She turned and saw him standing
near, staring, bewildered yet strangely
eager, toward her. Her lips parted,
her bosom lifted in a sharp intake of
| breath, as their eyes met Then she
got slowly to her feet, trying to look
away that she might regain a lost-self-
| control
He started toward her, with the Pc
culiar halting step she never could
see without a tender maternal i'm
| pulse. Scarcely two yards away he
stopped.
''Kazia-youi"
yes"
but IT, he stammered, 81 don't un-
derstand"
Self-control was coming back At
came to get Piotr.''
ITO get Piotr,' he repeated mechan-
| ically. But he did not comprehend.
He passed a hand over his eyes.
The apparition did not fade. Gradu-
ally he realized-with dazing tumble
| of gladness and pain and reluctance
that it was indeed she. in the flesh.
81 can hardly realize it." he said at
| last. ct was just thinking of you.
| Often 1 am thinking of YOU A hun
| dred times I've been on the point of
| going to see you, to find out
ITO find out?''
How badly hurt you"
81 told you 1 haven't blamed you"
But that isn't true-it can't be
true. 1t wouldn't be human not to
| resent me, what I've brought you You
do resent. don't your
"Why do you press me with what
is ended? 1 don't want to think of
| tor to be unjust L" She turned
sharply to face him. Yes, if you
| must know it, do resent"
you have every right to resent %
he answered sadly.
She started swiftly along the bank
| toward the village He followed, try
| ing to keep up with her, and with a
real effort managed it. A quarter of a
mile was thus traversed, neither
speaking, she keeping always one pace
ahead so that he could not see her
face. Then she observed his heavy
81 didn't realize 1 was walking SO
fast" Her voice was quiet again.
| 81 don't mind it." He assayed a
| laugh, a poor, mirthless attempt. 81
| need a counter-irritant just now"
'And 1 didn't mean what said back
there. 1 haven't felt that way-often
| at least have no resentment against
you-only against myself. 1t was in
me to keep clean and 1 deliberately
1t is all SO clear now-chose the worst
| thing"
THAT is true of all of u.s."
81 don't know. only know it's true
of me. And SO you needn't go on tor
turing yourself with thoughts Of your