The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-06-10

(Continued from our last issue.)
The cry was there, the prick.
the point of all her bewilderment.
Yes, but l saw him! 1t makes a
difference. couldn't help II
then. No man could. And I've
been after him so long!"
why didn't you tell me?" she
said.
He was silent.
''If | had wanted something OF
you" Blanche insisted in her rap
Id, uneven voice, IL would have
gone to you. Why didn't you
come to me? Why did you go
to them? And they-oh, OH"
She took her head between her
hands. IL can't understand 1t!
He has been my friend all my life.
I've been SO sure of my father.
l told him everything; yet he told
you, the moment he saw you, ev-
trything." She turned to Carron.
And | am yours, am /? thought
] was closer to you than to any
one in the world. l showed you
what | loved because ! thought
that you, you too"
"Yes. | know" he groaned. 81
know, Bllnche-I've been a brute.
ought to have had II all out
square with you, but it's done
now, all wrong. You've got to
forgive mel"
II was the first time in his life
he had ever made that statement.
He had to drag the words out of
his proud throat.
at wasn't done in cold blood |;
part was done before | even saw
you, and after | saw the horse
give you my word l hardly knew
what | was doing! l forgot how
you could feel! | forgot how every
one but l felt"
He put his arm around her and
pulled her toward him. Her body,
tense as a bow, strained away
from him; but just the grasp of
her was comfort enough after the
horrid moments of separation. He
pressed her face against his own.
Come" he entreated. 'it's for
you-to be generousi Be good to
{. me. forgive."
She sighed. But, II you had
only told me first"
eyes, but II | had? Why, you
would never have let me come
near it,"
"Ah, no! and that would have
been so much better! II would
have saved us all this suffering
II would have saved him, too"
"Yes-but-"
81 know what you are going 10
say" She leaned her head back
to look up earnestly in his face
But 1t will not be the same with
him again any more than II will
be the same with us. There'll be
that difference always with him
for being caught once, even if al.
ways afterward he is free"
Carron's hold on her relaved
you don't expect me to let him
go again, do your"
He could feel her fingers that
had grasped his arms with such
energy growing limp on his
sleeve.
/. you're not going to keer
him?"
But have him!" Carron OBJ
Jected.
"But you said-You asked me
to forgive you!"
eyes I knowv ha axnIainad
patiently, wondering how she
could be so stupid. But that was
for not telling you what I had
done, deceiving you, II you like
to call II that-not for takine
the horse. There's nothing
wrong with that"
There is, there is! He ISM
meant'to be tame! He can't be-
Nov. my dear GIRL" he broke
In. we've had all that out be-
( fore, and it's absurd Am tc
lose the thing I came here for
and have got, because you nave q
notion or a dream?"
In the pause he was aware
that queer little convulsive move.
ments disturbed her mouth
you asked me to be generous;
you said you loved me. Be good
to me now. Be generous to me
Show me that what you said Is
true. Even IL you can't under
stand WHY | want n irc'
! want IL so much, because IL
,sseTf Il fs,sr -. l. Ia