Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-04-14
8TnE DESTROYING ANGEL
orcontinued from Page Four.l

rContinued from Page Four.l
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i know. what. I do mean. I'm really
very tired, too tired to go on. just
now--.to sit here with you, badgering
our poor wits with esoteric subtleties.
think-do you mind I'D better go
in"
She rose quickly, without waiting for
his hand. Whitaker Strengthened out
his long body with more elaboration,
standing finally at full height, his
grave and moody countenance strongly
relieved in the ruddy glow, while her
face was all In shadow.
zone moment" he begged humbly-
before we/go in. I I've some
thing else to say to you. II I may"
She waited, seriously attentive.
{ 81 haven't played fair, I'm afraid"
ne said, lowering his head to escape
her steadfast gaze. ''I've just told
You that love you, but ;"
''well1" she demanded in an odd,
ringing voice. ''Isn't It truer'
'.True7' He laughed unnaturally.
sits 50 true wish had died before
told you!"
please explain" she urged trace
wea1ly.
IL. he stammered-"1 am already
married"
She gave little, stiled cry
whether Of pain or horror or Of indig-
nation he could not tell.
'.I'm sorry-I-" he began.
Don't you think you might have
thought Of this before7"
Y II you don't understand"
|. 80 it would SEEM" she put in
cruelty.
Please hear me! It was several
years ago married girl I'd never
seen before, to help her out of des-
perate scrape she'd got into. We
never lived together, never even saw
one another after that hour. She
had every reason to think me dead
ms should have been. by rights. But
now she knows that I'm alive--is about
to sue for q divorce"
After long pause. during which
neither stirred, she told him, In faint
voice: "Thank you"
She moved toward the house.
III you will forgive me"
"Oh, I forgive you, Mr.. Whitaker.
My heart is really not quite so fragile
as all this implies. I think I'll 90
to bed. I'm very, very tired, in spite
,s rig sleep 6. Che sands That didn't
rest me, really"
They returned to the kitchen.
In silence, while Whitaker fdgeted
about the ROOM, awkward and I'M
happy, the girl removed q glass lamp
from the shelf above the sink, as
sured herself that it was filed. and
lighted 1t. Then over her shoulder:
II hope you don't mean to stay up
all night"
'I-well, I'm really not sleepy"
AS soon - you feel the least need
OF sleep, your 20 to bed?'
81 PROMISE
every web, then"
The insistent note faded from her
SJOHeSs SuS Q1VN0N SO"dEV SAC tt1DlC,
put the lamp down, and hesitated in
one OF her strange, unpresaged moods
sof difidence, looking down at the
finger-tips with which she traced q
meaningless pattern on the oil-cloth.
.sY0u are kind" she. said abruptly,
her hsad bowed, har face hidden from
him. 4
s.Kindr' no echoed, dumfounded.
sYou are kind and sweet and gen.
erous to me-" she insisted in q level
voice. 'You have shown me your
lieart-the heart of gentleman-with-
out reserve; but Of me you have
asked nothing" !,
II don't understand"
II mean, you haven't once referred
to what happened last night. You've
been content to let me preserve my
confidence, to remain secretive and
mysterious In your sight. That
Is how I seem to you-isn't it7''
"Secretive and mysterious? But
have no right to your confidence; your
affairs are yours, inviolable, unless
YOU choose to discuss them"
you would think that way-of
course!'' Suddenly she showed him
her face illuminated with It's frank.
shadowy smile, her sweet eyes. kind
and as fearless as the eyes Of q child.
"Other men would not know. And
you have every right to KNOW"
"Tw
"You; and ] shall tell you. :.
But not now; there's too much to tell.
to explain and make understandable;
and I'm too terribly tired. Tomorrow,
perhaps--or when We escape from this
weird place, when I've had time to
think things out"
AT your pleasure" he assented
gently. "Only-don't let anything
worry you"
Impulsively she caught both his
hands In a clasp at once soft and
strong, wholly Straightforward and
friendly.
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