The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-07-06

name BLdFLieu-AifuoSL frightened MIN,
she said 1t so quietly, so--tenderiy.
"Roddy," she said. II want you to
come over here and kiss me, and then
go back and sit down In that chair
again"
He went little pale at that. The
swing Of his foot was arrested sud-
denly. But, for moment he made no
moye-just looked wonderingly into
her great, grave eyes.
Something's going to happen" she
went on, "and before it's over. I'm
afraid It's going to hurt you terribly
and me. And / want the kiss for US
to remember. SO that wen always
know, whatever happens nfterward,
that we loved each other" She held
out her arms TO him. won't you
come7'
He came--a man bewiidered. bent
down over her, and found her lips; but
almost absently, out of daze.
mo, not like that" she murmured.
"In the old way"
There was a long embrace.
~ don't believe I'd have the courage
to do It," she said, III 1t were just me.
But there's someone else-I've made
someone promise. / can't tell You
about that. Now please go back and
sit over there where you were. where
we can talk quietly. Oh, Roddy, | love
you sol-No, please go back, old man!
And-and light your pipe. oh, don't
tremble like thati 1t isn't tragedy.
It's--for us, it's the greatest hope In
| the world"
He went back to his chair. He even
lighted his pipe as she asked him to,
and waited as steadily as he could for
her to begin.
"Do you remember ;" she be-
gan, and 1t was remarkable how quiet
and steady her voice was. There was
even the trace of a smile about her
wonderful mouth. "Do you remember
that afternoon of ours, the very first
of them. when you brought home my
notebooks and found me asleep on the
couch in our old back parlor? Do you
remember how you told me that ones
desires were the only motive power
he had? Well, 1t was funny thing
got to wondering afterward what
my desires were, and 1t seemed j
hadn't any. Everything had, somehow,
come to me before knew wanted It.
Everything In the world, even your
love for me, came like that.
"But I've got a passion now, Rodney.
I've had 1t for long while. It's a
desire I can't satisfy. The thing ]
want--and there's nothing In the world
l wouldn't give to get it's, well, your
friendship, Roddy; that's way Of say
Ing It."
/ Rodney started and stared at her
The thing struck him. 1t seemed, as a
sort of grotesquely irritating anticli-
max.
"Gracious heaven" he said. my
friendship Why, I'm In love with you
That's certainly bigger thing"
II don't know whether It's bigger
thing or not" she said. "But 1t doesn't
include the other"
He was tramping up and down tbs
room by now. you've got my friend
shlp!' he cried out. cts grotesqu'
perversion of the facts to say yo'
haven't"
She smiled at him as she shook he
head. "Pve spent too many months
trying to get 1t and seeing myself fai
! oh, so ridiculously mot to know
what I'm talking about, Roddy."
And then, still smiling rather sadly
she told him what some of the expert
: ments had been-some of her attempt
to break into. the life he kept locke
! away from her. II was angry at frs
when l found you keeping me out,
! she said. "angry and hurt. / used t
t cry about 1t. And then ] saw 1t WASH
A your fault. That's how discovere
. friendship had to be earned"
] But her power to maintain that att
tude of grave detachment was abor
/ spent. The passion mounted in he
e voice and In her eyes as she went oil
b "You thought my mind had got full {
wild ideas--the wild idea was pullin
q you down from something free and fin
a that you had been, to something thu
Z YOU despised yourself for being an
a had to try to deny YOU were. 70
e were wrong about that, Roddy.
}. II did have an obsession. but
l. wasn't the thing you thought. 1t WI
e an obsesslon that kept me quiet, an
II contented and happy, and willing
If wait In spite Of everything. The o
il session was that none of those thinI
Ie mattered because a big miracle WI
coming that was going to change it a
sr was going to have job at last
n job that was just as real as yours.
ID the job of being mother"
ii, Her voice broke in fierce, shal
e. little laugh over the word, but she &
Of it back in control again.
h. 81 was going to have baby to ke'
ii alive with my own care. There W
II going to. be responsibility and ha
lg work, things that demanded coura
re and endurance and sacrifice. cou
- earn your friendship with that, sa
IT, That was the real obsession. Rode
II Il ,ss~l