Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-04-04

spent her hour with Max that evening
as usual. His big chair had been
drawn close TO a window, and she
found him there, looking out. She
kissed him. But instead of letting her
draw away, he put out his arms and
caught her to him.
"Smile at me. You don't smile any
more. You ought to smile; your
mouth
Il am almost always tired; that's all,
Max"
She eyed him brayely.
Aren't you going TO let me make
love to you at all? You get away be-
yond my reach"
Il was looking for the paper to read
TO you"
A sudden suspicion famed in his
eyes.
sidney, you don't like me to touch
you any more. Come here where | can
see you"
The fear of agitating him brought
her quickly. For moment he was ap-
peased.
are, Sidney" He lifted first one hand
and then the other to his lips. Are
you ever going to forgive me?"
IF you mean about Carlotta, for
gave that long ago"
He was almost boyishly relieved.
What a wonder she was So lovely,
and so sane. Many woman would
have held that over him for years not
that he had done anything really wrong
on that nightmare excursion. But so
many women are exigent about prom
Uses.
''When are you going to marry meI'
ave needn't discuss that tonight,
Max. Can't we talk things over when
you are stronger
Her tone caught his attention. and
turned him a little white He faced
her TO the window, so that the light fell
on her.
what things What do you mean?"
He had forced her hand. She had
meant to wait; but with his keen eyes
on her, she could not dissemble.
Il am going to make you very IN
happy for u little while"
"Well?"
1--WE had lot of time to think. II
isn't that l am angry. l am not even
Jealous. / was at first. 1t isn't that.
It's hard TO make you understand.
think you care for me"
But, good heavens. Sidney, you do
care for me, don't your
I'm afraid don't, Max; not
enough"
She tried to explain. rather pitifully.
After one look at his face, she spoke
10 the window.
I'm so wretched about it. | thought
cared TO me you were the best and
greatest man that ever lived. when
said my prayers, = But that doesn't
matter. You were sort of god TO
me-"
He groaned under his breath.
mo man could live up to that Sid
ney."
NO. see that now. But that's the
way | cared. It's just that / never
loved the real you, because l never
knew you"
When he remained silent, she made
an attempt to justify herself.
I'D known very few men" she said.
II came into the hospital. and for a
time life seemed very terrible. There
were weaknesses l had never heard
of, and somebody always paying for
them. l was always asking, Why2
Why? Then you would come in, and
lot of them you cured and sent out.
You gave them their chance don't you
see? Until | knew about Carlotts, you
always meant that to me. You were
like K.-always helping"
The room was very silent. In the
nurses parlor, a few feet down the cor
ridor, the nurses were at prayers.
'Yea, though l walk through the val
ley of the shadow of death"
The man in the chair stirred He
had come through the valley of the
shadow, and for what? He was very
bitter He said TO himself savagely
that they would better have let him
die
you say you never loved me because
you never knew me. I'm not rOtter,
Sidney. Isn't 1t possible that the man
you cared about, whO-who did his
best by people and ali that's the real
me?"
She gazed at him thoughtfully. He
missed something out of her eyes, the
sort of luminous wistfu greatness.
Measured by this new glance. so clear,
so appraising. he shrank back into his
chair
The man who did his best is quite
real. You have always done your best
in your work; you always will. But
the other is a part of you too, Max.
Even if ] cared, ! would not dare to
run the risk
She took step toward the door
hesitated, came back, and put a light
hand on his shoulder.
I'm sorry. dear Max
She had kissed him lightly on the
cheek before he knew what she intend
caress that, perhaps more than any
thing else, it typified the change In
their relation.
When the door closed behind her. he
saw that she had left her ring on the
arm of his chair. He picked it up. 1t
was still warm from her finger. He
held IL 10 his lips with a quick gesture
In all his successful life he had never
before felt the bitterness OF failure