The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1917-02-08

4 iiCAtNot IL htiNts LILO NpiSI
tense, "there's nothing to con.
| fde."
"Nothing9" she asked, her
| glance still toward the fire.
= assure you-nothing," he re-
peated.
She looked up and smiled.
q almost wish there was,' she
said. He could not fail to note
the tenderness with which she
spoke.
She saw that he elenched his
hands systematically.
$50 do l." was all he said.
There followed a pause-she
looking into the fire, he standing,
erect and strung unnaturally taut,
beside her.
"Of course she said softly,
"there is, if you care to contide
IT,"
What, for instance2"
She got the impression that he
stood more like a statue than a
man while he waited for her re-
ply.
We'll, for instance she an
swered, her words a little slow,
1.-The story of how you became in
terested in the fight : why you
took it up. Oh, / know all about
your speaking and working in the
states before you came here, but |
mean why you ever started it
Il car tell you that in a very
few Words he replied with curt
emphasis, looking down into her
uplifted face. Il have all allah
sorbing fear of alcohol, so far as ]
personally am concerned, and I
have an ever present knowledge OF
the ruin it works"
And that is all?"
She, obviously, was disa2-
pointed.
Yes
There came another pause, dur
ing which she was painfully aware
of the rightly of his fingers as he
stood beside her. 1t occurred to
her that a man faced by a great
fear might be like that.
Il hope you won't think me per
sistent, butt
my dear lady, he interiected
quickly, "yo" could never be-"
but" she persisted, Il wish
with all my heart that it wasn't
all
He flashed from her again. He
seemed unconscious that he moved
as he went the length of the room
and back.
"Why-why do you say that4''
he asked.
Il am yonr friend. You know
that?' She put the question
slowly.
1.-The knowledge of it is my
great delight he said, his voice
scarcely above a whisper.
And all my friends she ex.
planned, reluctantly, .'know of the
friendship between you and me
And they ask Observation-Disclosures
you are
And you tell them?"
lie leaned down so that he
might implore her with his eyes
She sank back in her chair and
let her hands fall to its arms, max.
ing the gesture all hopelessness.
II tell them all | know she
said, a trife sadly "that you are
a very wonderful man, thai yot
are doing a great work, that yor
are a westerner, and that you pre-
fer not to discuss your past life. ]
tell them there may have bee,
something unpleasant III it, some
thing Of a painful nature.
He leaned against the mantle
and took a deep, slow breath. HI
did not look at her.
And isn't that enough?' Il,
urged.
She moved quickly, catching hi.
eye.
Do you think it is enoughYs
she asked, her candid, steady eye.
commanding an answer.
He broke away from her leve
look as il she had been holding
him by physical contact, and fel
again into his stride up and dowl
uic room. Twice he returned tt
her, tried TO speak. and kept silent
The third time he stood behind til.
back of the chair in which she hae
been sitting. She saw that thu
:tautncss, tic ugidity. which l,ae
been il his figure had gone int,
his features.
sseehhe there IA as, s HIT &c
gan 4 tragedy. Surely / can tel
Vnif hat