Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1915-03-18

S all your money gomez Brent
asked Ethel.
u think So"
Good heavens!"
Dear mamma knows as little about
business as she does about me Until
this morning she has always had II
rooted belief in her bank and her
daughter. If | holt with you her last
cherished illusion will be destroyed"
Let me help YOU he said eagerly.
How" And she looked at him
again With that cold hard scrutiny
Lend us money, do YOU mean:"
He fell into the trap
Yes" he said I'D do that If you'd
let me"
She gave just the suggestion of IL
sheer and turned deliberately away.
He felt the force of the unspoken re-
proof.
~ beg your pardon" he said humbly
She went Oh as If she had not heard
the offensive suggestion so you see
were both in a way. ut the cross
roads"
He seized her hand fercely LET
me take you away out of it ALL" ne
cried
She withdrew her hand slowly.
NO she said. mot just now. I'm
not in n boiling mood today"
He moved away She watched him.
Then she called him to her. Some
thing in the man attracted this strange
nature. She could not analyZe or de-
fine the attraction But the impclling
force was there.
He went to her.
Ethel spoke to him for the first time
softly. almost caressingly.
Chris. some time, perhaps in the
dead OF night. something will snap Ill
me-the slack, selfish. luxurious me,
that hates to be reused into action
and the craving for adventure will
come. Then I'll send for you"
He took her hand again, and this
time she did not draw 1t away. He
said in a whisper:
And you'll go with me?"
Ethel stretched lazily and smiled at
him through her half closed eyes.
II suppose so. Then heaven help
you,'
why shonld we waltz" he cried.
at will give us the suspense Of ex-
pectation."
Il want you! need your he
pleaded.
Until the time comes for ampnta-
tion|'
Don't. Don't!' And he dropped
her hand suddenly.
We'll. doa't want you to lave any
Illusions about me, Chris. | hmve none
about you Let us begin fair anyway
1t will he so much easier when the end
comes
There viii! he no end" he said pas
sionately. 81 love you-love you with
every breath of my l:ody, {, cry thought
in my mind every throb Of my nerves
j love YOU lie kissed her hand re
pealedly. II love you!" He took her
in his arms and pressed her to him.
She struggled With him without any
anger or disgust or lear. AS she put
him away from her She just said sim
ply:
please don't It's 80 hot this mora
ing
AS she turned away from him sht
was struck dumb Sitting beside the
table in the middle of the room. hct
back turned to them. was the strongest
oldest little figure Ethel had ever seen
Who WAS she? How long had sht
been in the room:
Ethel turned to Brent. He was quite
pale now and was ncrvously stroking
his slight mustache.
Ethel was furious. 1t was incredible
tha, Brent could have been So indlS
erect.
How on earth did that creature gel
there without their hearing or Seeinl
ner!
Ethel went straight to the demurt
little figure sitting on the chair.
Pegs journey to England was one OF
the unhappiest memories Of her life
She undertook the voyage deliberately
10 please her father. because he tolt
her it would please him. But beneath
this feeling of pleasing him was one
of sullen resentment at being made t.
separate from him.