The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1916-09-21

Dcen Er1cNfnR because you hurt me
hurt me twice. VIII you stop now II
I tell you that I wouldn't exchange
those two-shall we call them wounds
for all the kindnesses Of all the other
women in the worldf I did believe
that you didn't think me good enough
that first time. That was why I was
cut deeper than you'll ever know. be.
cause knew II was only the truth.
admitted it-remember? admitted II
when ! said I was coming back. Well.
I'm back now, and I'm still not good
enough. and not because I haven't
tried 10 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 to prove he's a whole lot
better before stand asider'
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 81.
fenced her.
"My turn" he reminded her quiz.
zically. You've Just finished rather
involved bit Of reasoning concerning
the way other women love. a lot Of
which I'll have TO confess I didn't at.
tend as closely as 7 should have. Per.
haps that's because no mans method
OF caring has ever interested me a
great deal. except my own
II loved you when you were a little
bit Of girl-because I loved you!
And love you that way now. Your
face was the first woman face I ever
looked ON and-really-saw. And since
that first morning it's been with me
been with me a lot OF times when I
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
10 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 II was long before this
10 go on when there wasn't any hope?'
He waited Her breath came in long
and auivering gasp. IL 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 III have chosen TO tell
you differentlv"-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 I don't want to hurt you Why.
I'm going TO keep the laughter in your
eyes and heart as long as you live. for
I thought il would be n woman I'd
find when came back. and I've found
you still a girl-all save in those mo-
ments when you've seemed half boy TO
me. And that Is strange. too. isn't it
strange that never knew how much
] wanted you to he like that until you
taught me the wonder Of II yourselfi
MY eyes are singing. I don't talk
quite plainly. Nv throat is too tight
for easy sneech. Cor lis lust the o'H
wonder OF you after all Just the same
grow NJ now. You'll have T. stay girl
-boy--all the rest of your life. I've
learned to he fairly sure OF myself. but
I'm not asking TO he sure of you yet.
I'd never want to be too sure of you
unless all the rest of my whole world
had come tumbllng down. And then
then Id need to know always that I
could stake my soul on your keeping
faith. Id want TO know that ! could
reach out and find your hand search
ing for mine In the dark. Your face
was the first. girl-it's been the on'v
one TIN be the last thing III see the
last moment there Is sight In my
eyes,
His slow. infinitely gentle voice stop
ped. He sat head up before her. Then
rode toward the town.
She rode with wide eyes fastened
upon his face: rode with lips parted,
all else submerged In that wonder
which quickened her breath. Once she
leaned toward him as II TO sneak and
then shook her head at the made
.quacy OF the words They topped the
last rise IN the dusty. winding road
and raised the river basin and the
town itself in that long period OF ST.
lence. There once more she checked
the roam mare.
Quite on mutual impulse they
clasped hands and looked into each
others eyes-quite unnecessarily 1t
may have appeared to the small group
on the veranda Of the stucco and tim
Der place halfway down the slope be-
tween them and town-and there on
the crest Of the hill. suddenly con-
scious of those eyes. the girl drew
back as swiftly as she had swung to-
ward him.
"What In the world-will they Think"
she breathed. i've been gone since
daybreak without saying a word that
I was going. And II must be noon by
now. Come-no. don't hurryl It's too
late to. hurry now!'
Her chin came up; the line Of her
lips lost Its soft fullness. II was his
hot face which made her aware Of how
surely her imperiously quick orders
had stung him. Then she was back.
knee TO knee. at his side.
THAT wasn't fair" she said. THAT
was most unfair to me. You didn't
think. did you. that r.