The Ozark spectator., 1917-02-21

She waited until she found him alone in the shop, the little room which had once meant to him the beginning of life's joyousness and life's hopes; and which was now a prison house whence ghosts of yesterdays mocked him with their memories.
 He was about to close it's doors for the day.
 Toinette summoned all her strength. The tower of pride was tottering; 1t can be sent down in ruins so easily when girl throws down the weapon of her sex!
 II can't stand it any longer, David she said breathlessly, "to see you suf- fer. 1 know you are suffering, because I-because I-because 1t hurts me sol"
 What glorious crash the tower made!
 David took quick step toward her. His pulses throbbed ungovernably.
 'Toinette. what do you mean?" His face was glorious. Have you-do you believe in me now?"
 You have plotted out all the past, David" she said simply.
 The joy suddenly left his face.
 But the past" he said, in dread of what her answer might be, "the past have you forgotten why you drove me from you? Have you forgotten what treason you charged me with?"
 She waved the words aside. That is all past now, David. It is the fu- ture that Is everything. And 1 know now what you mean to me"
 He clenched his hands at his side. He would be patient. Was it possible that she still believed the empty slan- der against his loyalty?
 ''No, Toinette," he said, as gently as he could. 'I have not forgotten your charge against me. 1 can never for get it until you say that you were wrong."
 The tower of pride reared itself up again from its dust. Why must he ask her to humble herself still further, when she had already said so much? She was silent. He waited for her answer, but none came; and at last, he bowed gravely.
 "Then it is useless to talk of-for- getting. Please let us end this foolish play"
 He moved as though to go on with his work
 Wait, David!" she said tremulously. Her eyes were blinded with tears. Her fingers had been plucking nervously at Il purple ribbon which hung from her bodice.
 Wait, want to give you-a re- membranes" She lifted the great shears from the counter and clipped tear ran down and stained it with darker color Her fingers twisted the sorry token, quickly twisted it into a wistful emblem such as happy lovers laughingly give each other-a lovers knot. She raised her face and her blue eyes smiled wanly through the mist that clouded them.
 Here, David, take this-just to be foolish, just to be foolish for once"
 He took 1t. His hand was trembling. But his face was steel, unforgiving. All his yearnlng for her burned in his breast, white caldron of passion; but around it closed the unyielding walls of his cold passion for his honor. He could never forget that she had doubted him once. Until that stain had been washed away, he could not forgive. He remembered the young Sir Philip Sidney of whom her father, old Patrice. had so often told him-of his proud guardianship of the white shield of manly honor; he himself had been only a wearer, but here, in this new country, he was man; and his honor must be first!
 "Toinette," he said in a low voice, ''who told you that had acted as spyp"
 The blood rushed to her cheeks. This, too. she would give him.
 Doctor Elliott" she whispered, with bent head.
 Who is he?" cried David in fury. That young doctor who comes here from Louisville? In Gods name. what has he against me? I've never seen the man! But do you believe him stillT
 You have never-never denied never" she stopped miserably. She could not raise her eyes to face him.
 "Then nothing elsc mutters, Toin- ette."
 "Oh, David, that doesn't matter ei- ther!" she cried. "Nothing matters l want you in spite of that!"
 But he shook his head.
 She became very pale again.
 'I have offered all have," she said proudly. "I have nothing more to give"
 "I can take nothing from you while you believe me guilty. My name Is all l have to give you."
 Her answer scarcely reached his ear:
 "Oh, David, let our love be enough"
 The light had faded from the sky. David looked down at her bent head anI fron,bloA