Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1917-10-11

were right about that, as you were
about SO many other things. Well
I'm going to try to earn It,"
'1s that-all you want7" she asked
and then, hearing the little gasp he
/ gave. she swung around quickly and
! looked ut him. 1t was pretty dark IL
the room, but his face In the dusk
seemed to have whitened.
"Is friendship all you want Of me
Roddy?" she asked again. She stood
there waiting, full minute, in silence
Then she said: you don't have to
tell me that. Because I know. Oh
oh. my dear. how well l know!"
He didn't come to her; just stood
there. gripping the corner of her book.
which was about all he could see 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-if 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 kindness of yours,
you're willing to give me-every.
thing"
He Strengthened up and came step
nearer. swell, won't have 1t, tell
you. don't know how you guessed.
II I'd dreamed I was betraying that to
you !! Don't l 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 you? And now,
after ull that-after you've won your
fight-alone-and stand where you
stand now-for me to come begging
And tnke gift like that! I tell you
1t is pity. 1t can't be anything else"
There was another minute of silence,
and then he heard her make little
noise In her throat, noise that would
have been sob had there not been
something like laugh in it. The next
moment she said, "Come over here.
Roddy," und us he hesitated. as If he
hadn't understood, she added: II want
you to look at me. Over here, where
there's light enough to see me BY"
He came, wonderingly, very slowly,
but ut 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 again-"is it pity that
you see? Don't you underestimate"
He did understand it with his mind
but he was little dazed, like one who
has stood too near where the light.
ming struck. The hope he had kept
buried alive so long-buried alive be.
cause it wouldn't die-c0uld not be
brought out into 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 fol
Observation-Disclosures. 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 1t. and brushed the
back of it with his lips.
The timidity Of that caress, with all
it revealed to her. was too much 70,
her. She swallowed one sob, and an.
other, but the next one got away from
her and she broke out in a passionate FL
OF weeping. That reused him from his
daze little, and he pulled her down
IN his arms-held her tighl-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 ant
drew down the blinds.
"Rose," he said presently, "what arr
we going to do?"
"Shall we make 1t real honeymoon
Roddy-make it as complete as W.
can? Forget everything and let al
the world be :"
He supplied the word for her, "Rose
color?"
She accepted 1t with little laugl
|. ."fOr u while?"
'That's what I was fumbling for
he said, "but can't think yer,
straight tonight. I've got it now
though. That cottage we had-befor,
the twins were born-down on tn,
Cape. There won't be n soul Their
this time of year. We'd have tn,
world to ourselves"
EYES," she said, "for a little while
we'd want it like that. But after
while-after day or two, could W,
have the babies? Could the nurs
bring them on to me and then g
straight buck. so that could hav
them, and you, all together?"
i He said. "You darling" But b
couldn't manage more than that.
At the entrance and just out o
range Of the elevator man, he kisse,
her good night"
"But will you telephone to me a
soon us you wake up in the morning, 8
that I'll know it's true?"