The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1915-10-14
CHAPTER xX-CCoNTINUED)

Ne forgot his troubles In the great
Soy that swept over him, in the discoy-
cry that she was true after all The
lander word. sweetheart" burst from
his Lips. A mist swan before his eyes.
hut, almost with his breath OF JOY
came the chill that blighted II.
He would have TO hurt her, after all.
Gia face grew bleak and haggard, his
ND uernbled. she misconstrued the
etnotion that was depleted there.
when I heard that you were here,
insisted on coming home" she went
Ga breathlessly. Father telegraphed
% me last week. / had told him that
the yacht was to extend the cruise sew
eral weeks longer"
But you knew was coming on the
Dth," he said. "You had my letters"
They were forwarded to me. j got
them at HAVANA. And Eric" she
eontinued. flushed and III at ease, II
Wa1 AFRAID you would hate me for my
treatment OF Mary. l misJudged her.
II was because ! was jealous. She
preferred to be with John Payson and
those women friends Of his. couldn't
hslp resenting st."
"Payson II a gentleman I've found
mat out for myself" said Eric. indi-
roctly defending Mary.
1T was all SO very childish Of me-"
she confessed. Il am ashamed Of my
noif" Fl
~ side, toward her home. Obviously.
Mary was no longer paramount to her
tmtentionH
He halted her abruptly.
Its no use, JOAN" he exclaimed. II
SAINT let Il so on. Something has hap
penod You will know what II Is be-
Sure the day 10 over. haven't the
eourAge to tell you myself"
Her hand was on his arm.
Nothing can matter, Eric-nothing
M the world" she said glibly. You
are disappointed In me. You have q
grievance, but II is imaginary. can
Bmooth those lines away II you will
Just be patient with me. You are
She stared. Alarm showed in her
ayes.
There isn't anyone elser' she asked.
after q moment.
mo. mol" he cried out bitterly.
Then why" she began impetuous-
". but checked the words to say In
stead: Eric, dear. won't you come
home with me? We will not say an
Dthor word all the way. When we are
N tho house you may tell me every
hing. But you must come with me-
They came upon Judge Bright in the
vArd- He smiled genially as they drew
n their faces or the detected droop Of
iEic's head.
The young man had been thinking
hard during those blocks Of self
imposed silence. He owed the truth to
Joan. II was wrong in him to even
think OF leaving her In the dark. un-
prepared for the shock that was to
come later in the day. She should have
A9 Arnt from his lips.
$50 he wasn't offended by the way
you ran off and left him yesterday
began the judge. His daughters face
became very pink. she caught her
breath In dismay.
Eric smiled wearily. So there had
been compdnctions! She had talked
Il over with her father. There was
something In that to be treasured.
The Judge said ahem! thrice In rapid
succession, and fell away before the
GAGgers in Joan's eyes. With a very
perfunctory remark about the splen-
dor Of the day, he stood aside to let
them pass, grimly certain OF q bad
half hour when she had him alone.
Her cheeks were still pink when she
preceded Eric into the library. Turn
Ing abruptly, she placed her hands on
his shoulders.
-Eric. want you to hold me in your
arms as you"
He crushed her to his breast. For
young lips meeting in long. devouring
kiases.
At last he released her, and drew
back with groan Of despair. She was
smiling radiantly up into his eyes.
IT iHp't Sc terrible after all, is it?''
shs cried breathlessly. Then she no.
ticod his expression "Was Il so ter
rible az All that?" she exclaimed. pout-
ing.
She was pulling off her gloves, all
the while watching him as he stood
grim and silent against the huge IL
hrary table, as IL in need Of support.
Then off came her trim jacket. He did
not offer to assist her. She was
punxled.
Don't remove your hat JOAN" he
said. holding UP his hand. Stand
there, just as you are. while tell you
why II cannot 60 on. ] love you'll
worship you don't want you ever to
forget that, dearest"
Again be spared not the details. The
whole story poured from his lips with
q rush that left her powerless to in
anrrupt. Her eyes never left his set,
unflinching face. A sort OF stupe-
fnctioh possessed her. He saw the va
fioua changes of expression that fol-
lowed the dawn Of comprehension: the
widening Of her eyes In horror, the
ynArrowing In pain, the flashes Of ex-
NSAb8AASub anu byLupdlIlyB TIC ugAhB Va
all that had been joyous.
Il am sorry, JOAN" he said at the
end, after waiting moment for her to
speak. you understand. ! had to
tell you, Just as ! told the others"
He expected her to turn away from
Kin with shudder OF revulsion--he
dreaded It. But she did not turn
sway. She stood still. her hands grip
ping the chair which supported her,
her big eyes looking into the very soul
az him.
sTii 20 now" he muttered, suddenly
weak and trembling.
watt" she said, almost mechanic
ally. Where are you going?"
stTo the sheriff" he announced.
sWIll you tell your father? He will
understand why can't go on with the
house He need never know what we
have been to each other. Perhaps II Ia
batter that he should not know.
with sharp, inarticulate cry she
Threw herself on his breast; she
presssd his cheeks with her tense little
hands and shook him desperately.
norcely. Quick, hysterical sentences
rushed from her lips.
-You are not murderer. You were
- a., k,lavaa M won think will let