The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1917-08-17

He didn't come TO her; just stood
there, gripping the corner If her book
case and staring at her silhouette
which was about all he could zee OF
her against the window. At last he
said, In a strained, dry voice she'd
hardly have known for his:
"If you know that-lf I've let you see
that--then I've done just about the last
despIcable thing there was left for me
to do. I've come down here and
made you feel sorry for me. SO that
with that-divine kindliness Of yours,
you're willing to give me-every-
thing"
He Strengthened up ana came step
nearer. SWELL l won't have 1t, tell
you. l don't know how you guessed.
II I'd dreamed was betraying that to
you Don't / know-it's
burnt into me so that I'll never forget
what the memory of my love must
be to you? The memory of the hide
GUS things It's done to your And now,
after all that-after you've won your
ight-alone-and stand where you
stand nOw-for me to come begging |!
And take a gift like that! tell you
II is pity. It can't be anything else"
There was another minute Of silence,
and then he henrd her make a little
noise In her throat. noise that would
have been n sob had there not been
something like laugh In 1t. The next
moment she said, "COme over here.
Roddy," and as he hesitated, as II he
hadn't understood, she added: Il want
you to look at me. Over here, where
there's light enough to see me by"
He came. wonderlngly, very slowly,
but at last with her Outstretched hand
she reached him and drew him around
between her and the window.
Look into my face" she commanded.
Look into my eyes-as far In as you
can. Oh, my dearest" the sob of
pure Joy came agaln-"ls 1t pity that
you see? Don't you understand"
He did understand 1t with his mind,
but he was a little dazed, like one who
has stood too near where the light
ming struck. The hope he had kept
buried alive so lOng-burled alive be-
cause 1t wouldn't die-could not be
brought out into a binding glory like
this without pain-exquisite, terrify-
ing pain.
The knowledge she had acquired by
her own suffering stood her in good
stead now. She did not mistake, as
the Rose he had married might have
done, the weakness of his response for
cOldness-indifferen She led him
over to her one big chair and made
him sit down In 1t, settled herself
upon the arm Of 1t. and contented
herself with one Of his hands. Pres
emily he took one of hers, bent his
face down over it, and brushed the
back of 1t with his lips.
The timidity of that caress, with all
1t revealed to her, was too much for
her. She swallowed one sob, and an
other, but the next one got away from
her and she broke out in passionate fit
Of weeping. That reused him from his
daze a little, and he pulled her down
III his arms-held her tight-comfOrt-
ed her. When she got herself in hand
again, she got up, went away to wash
her face, and, coming back in the room
again, lighted reading lamp and
drew down the blinds.
"Rose," he said presently, "what are
we going to do"
"Shall we make 1t a real honeymoon,
Roddy-make 1t as complete as we
can? Forget everything and let all
the world be :"
He supplied the word for her, "Rose-
color?"
She accepted 1t with little laugh |
. .''fOr while?"
That's what was fumbling for"
he said, "but 1. can't think very
straight tonight. I've got it now,
though. That cottage we had-before
the twins were born-down on the
Cape. There won't be a soul there
this time of year. We'd have the
world to ourselves"
"Yes," she said, "for little while,
we'd want 1t like that. But after a
a day or two, could we
have the babies? Could the nurse
bring them on to me and then go
straight back, so that 1 could have
hem, and you, all tOgether"
He said, "You darling" But he
couldn't manage more than that.
At the entrance and lust out of
'ange of the elevator man, he kissed
Ter good night"
"But will you telephone to me as
soon as you wake up In the morning, so
hat I'll know it's true"
She nodded. Then her eyes went
vide and she clung to him. as 1t
rua pnddv9 TS II noSSihIo FOR a tbIn1