Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1915-10-14
CHAPTER

You have never been out of my
houghts--not for a moment, day OF
night. Oh. we cannot tai here!"
He forgot his troubles in the great
JOY that swept over him, in the discov-
cry that she vas true after all. The
tender word, Sweetheart" burst from
his lips. A mist swan before his eyes
But, almost with his breath Of JOY
came the chill that blighted 1t.
He would have to hurt her, after all
His FAC grew bleak and haggard, his
lip trembled. She m~isconstrued the
emotion that was depicted there.
When / heard that you were here,
! Insisted on coming home" she went
or breathlessly. "Father telegraphed
g me last week. I had told him that
h yacht was to extend the cruise sew
eraI weeks longer
But you knew / vas coming on the
I b he said. You had my letters
"They were forwarded to me. I got
them at Havana. And, Erie She
continued, flushed and ill at ease, II
wAs afraid o would hate me for my
treatment Of Mary. / misjudged her
Il was because i was Jealous. She
preferred to be with John Payson and
those women friends of his. / couldn't
help ~resenting It,"
"Payson Is a gentleman. I've found
that out for myself" said Eric, indi-
Fectly defending Mary.
5&$% - was Gil 81 WHY ClllLulSA OI llC,
b confessed. Il am ashamed Of my
self"
They were now walking slowly. side
bY side, toward her home. Obviously,
Mary wal no longer paramount to her
Intentions.
He halted her abruptly.
It's no use, Joan" he exclaimed. Il
J; psned. You will know what 1t is be-
3oro h day is over. I haven't the
courage to tell o myself"
Her hand was on his arm.
Nothing q matter, Eric-nothing
! the world" h said glibly. you
are disappointed In me. You have a
grievance. but It Is imaginary. I can
smooth those lines away IL you will
just be patient with me-. You are
oooved and. unhappy, you poor boy"
It's got to end" he repeated dog
Sedly.
She stared. Alarm showed in her
There isn't anyone else?" she asked,
after q moment.
mo, mol" he cried out bitterly.
Then why" h began impetuous-
u. but checked the words to say in
stead: Eric, dear, won't you come
home with me? We will not say an
ether word all the way. When we are
4 "a the house you may tell me every
thing. But you must come with me-
Vhey came upon Judge Bright In the
yArd. He smiled genially as they drew
AeArs failing to- note the serious look
4 y their faces or the detected droop of
Ertc's head.
The young man had been thinking
supposed silence. He owed the truth to
loan. II was wrong In him to ever
"a Of leaving her in the dark, un-
prepared for the shock that was to
oom0 later In the day. She should have
a 6rst from his lips.
80 he wasn't offended by the way
yousran off and left him yesterday
u began the Judge. His daughters face
became very pink. she caught her
breath In diSmay.
Eric smiled YEARLY. So there had
been computations! She had talked
y over. with her father. There was
4 something in that to be treasured.
The 9 said ahem! thrice in rapid
euccession, and fell away before the
dAggers In Joan's eyes. With q very
psrfunctory remark about the SPLEEN
q o OF the day, he stood aside to let
them pass, grimly certain OF a bad
ball hour when she had him alone.
Her cheeks were still pink when she
las abruptly, she placed her hands On
II his shoulders.
Eric. I want Q to hold me in your
arms az YOU
He crushed her to his breast. Fo,
sA long time they stood SO. their hot
young lips meeting In long. devourins
s% kioseD
Az last he released her, and drew
~ back with q groan Of despair. She was
smiling radiantly up into his eyes.
Isn't 80 terrible after all, Is It r
b cried breathlessly. Then she no.
~ Siced his expression. Was 1t so ter
ribs q all that r. she exclaimed. pout-
ss#tng.
She was pulling OH her gloves. al
the while watching him az he stool
grim and silent against the huge IL
brerys table. a. if In need Of support
Then OH came her trim jacket. He die
not offer Q assist her. She wa,
pu1xlSd.
..DSn't remove your hat. Joan. he
~ holding W his hand. "Stan6
snereI Just 90 you are. while I tell yor
Mhy az cannot go on. I love you
Wofship you. I don't want you ever K
1erGet that. dearest
Again he spared not the details. Ths
9 story poured from his lips with
Marush thAt left her powerless to In.
Nnflinching face. A sort OF stupe-
9AlctionS possessed her. He saw the y
f4oua changes OF expression that fol.
SaoWed the daWnsOf comprehension: thu
widening Of her eyes In horror, the
narrowing A pain, the flashes Of ex-
settement and sympathy, the dying OF
had been Joyous.
sSSssssl nm Joan" he said ut the
MISUNDERSTANDING q moment for her &
S8NpeAk. a"Y ou understand. I had stt
9lllsSyous Just = ] told the others.,
ssssS k4osexpectAd her to turn away from
ss4 mWtth assshndder OF revulsion-hs
81 Esededa it. But + did not turn