The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1916-11-16

Minute after minute passed. while
she sat plating the cloth tight stretch
ed over one knee. Lips softly a-quiver,
she waited. earnest. eager that he IN
derstand from her explanation that
which she did not yet understand at
all herself Again she wished that he
would turn. She wanted greatly TO
see whatever there might be behind
his heavy silence.
isn't it," she faltered timidly.
And vet when his head did come
around she found she couldn't face
him.
rs it my turn now?" he asked.
Her answer was barely audible.
Tiff you have to-have it. But
I've told you how useless it is"
would you mind looking at me Just
a minutef' said Steve.
The brown head dropped even lower
over the restless fingers. 1t shook ever
SO family.
I'D rather not. I'm listening"
His laugh tilted recklessly in sheer
Joy at her refusal.
"Then I'll have to tell you" he stat
ed that I'm smiling in spite of the
hopelessness. I'm smiling. even though
my throat Is aching and my lips pretty
dry
you've just finished trying to argue
my mans case from your woman's
point of view. one of the hardest, least
satisfactory things that could be at
tempted. no doubt. And if it were pos
sible l know I'd be loving you right
now even more than l did before Just
because you've been so entirely IN
successful at It. Maybe could straight
en- out a point or two that must have
been not quite clear to you; maybe
but don't want to argue back at you
now
You say my telling you all | must
tell you can't help my case little bit
All right; Wen let 1t stand like that
for the moment. And you say you are
going 10 marry Mr.. Wickersham. All
right again. but better prophets than
either of us have made mistakes be-
fore now. If he hadn't forced on me
one condition which would have liked
TO be different I'd rather have had to
mention no other man at all. This
isn't the way I'd have chosen to tell
you how much / care. I'd rather have
told you u little at time. but there
isn't time for that now. So maybe
It'll sound crude to you. I've not re
hearsed it with any other woman. you
see. And if it does sound that way il
won't help me much, either, will it?
Iyrrt TO hot
You started back dozen years or
so in order to make your explanation
clear. I'm starting there myself SO
III be sure you understand. You've
been grieving because you hurt me
hurt me twice. Will you stop now If
l tell you that | wouldn't exchange
those two-shall we call them wounds
for all the kindneSses of all the other
women in the world? / did believe
that you didn't think me good enough
that first time. That was why / was
cut deeper than you'll ever know, be
cause knew ii was only the truth. !
admitted it-remember? l admitted ii
when / said l was coming back. Well,
I'm back now, and I'm still not good
enough, and not because / haven't
tried to be, either. I'm just not ad-
hitting any man alive could be that.
But I'm telling you, too, in the same
breath that the man who takes you
will have 10 prove he's a whole lot
better before l stand aside.'
For the first time since he had begun
the girl moved. Her head leaped back.
She half lifted one hand in protest,
but the very gladness in his face ST.
fenced her.
MY turn" he reminded her quiz
zically. You've just finished a rather
involved bit of reasoning concerning
the way other women love, a lot of
which I'll have TO confess l didn't at
tend as closely as l should have. Per.
haps that's because no mans method
of caring has ever interested me a
great deal. except my own
81 loved you when you We're a little
bit of a girl-because l loved you!
And I love you that way now. Your
face was the first woman face l ever
looked ON and-really-saw. And since
that first morning it's been with me
been with me a lot Of times when |
didn't have anything else to look up to.
I've been less hungry for thought Of
you. less thirsty when the road got
pretty long at times. IL worshiped
you. Do you hear? Why, I've prayed
to you. dumbly. wordlessly. out of
black bitterness, when ii seemed that
any other divinity must be too busy TO
give any heed TOTO the ragged little
tad was. Now. do you think haven't
known what it was long before this
| to go on when there wasn't any hope"
He waited. Her breath came in long
and quivering gasp. II don't think
that I want to-listen any more she
! faltered.
| His face went white at that, and
then he was smiling again.
81 told you I'd have chosen TO tell
you differently"-the drawing gentle
ness was unaltered-"but I'll have to
finish this way now. There may not
! be many chances for me to speak. for
/ I've come back to you almost too late
And 7 don't want TO hurt you. Why.