The Ozark spectator., 1917-05-09
"Ask him to come along"

 go."
 Irresolute, she let her eyes rest again for fraction of second on his eyes; when she drew a breath after that pause everything was over. "id better give him his medicine first" she said, looking toward the sickroom door.
 His monosyllabic answer was calm: "Do." Then as she laid her hand on the knob of the door to enter the room: Gan I help any?'
 "Oh, mol" she cried indignantly.
 He laughed silently: 'I'll stay here"
 Nan disappeared. Lounging against the windowsill opposite the door, he waited. After a long time the door was stealthily reopened. Nan tiptoed out. She closed it softly behind her: 'I waited for him to go to sleep" she explained as she started down the cor ridor with De Spain. Hes had so much pain today-I hope he sleeps"
 "I hope so, too," exclaimed De Spain fervently.
 Nan ignored the implication. She looked straight ahead. She had noth- ing to say. De Spain, walking beside her. devoured her with his eyes; lis- tened to her footballs; tried to make talk but Nan was silent. Standing on the wide veranda out side the front door, she assented to the beauty of the distant illumination, but not enthusiastically. De Spain declared it could be seen very much better from the street below. Nan thought she could see very well where they stood. But by this time she was answering questions-dryly, it is true, and in monosyllables, but answering. two forward at time, coaxed her down the driveway.
 | She stood again irresolute, he drink | ing in the fragrance of her presence after the long separation and playing | her reluctance guardedly. Do you know" she exclaimed with sudden re- sentiment, you make it awfully hard to be mean to you"
 With laugh he caught her hand and made her walk down the hospital steps. You may be as mean as you like" he answered indifferently. "Only, never ask me to be mean to you"
 'I wish to heaven you would be-" she retOrted.
 Do you remember" he asked. what we were doing year ago today?"
 "No." Before he could speak again she changed her answer: "Yes, l do remember. If I said no you'd be sure to remind me of what we were doing. | We can't see as well here as we could from the steps,"
 But from here. you have the best view in Sleepy Cat of Music mountain"
 "We didn't come out here to see Mu- sic mountain"
 "I come here often to look at 1t. You won't let me see yOu-what can l do but look at where you live? How long are you going to keep me away?'
 Nan did not answer. He urged her to speak. You know very well it is my people that will never be friendly with you" she replied. How can l be?"
 They were passing q lawn settee. He sat down. She would not follow. She stood in q sort of protest at his side, but he did not release her hand. "Tll tell you how you can be-" he re- turned. Make me one of your people,"
 "That never can be-" she declared stubbornly. You know 1t as well as l do. Why do you say such things?' she demanded, drawing away her hand.
 IN,
 "No."
 Its because I love you"
 She strOve to command herself. "Whether you do or not can't make my difference" she returned steadily. "We are separated by everything. There's a gulf between us. It never can be crossed. We should both of us be wretched if 1t ever were crossed"
 He had risen from the bench and caught her hand Its because we haven't crossed 1t we're wretched," he said determinedly. Gross 1t with me noww He caught her in his arms. She struggled to escape. She knew what was coming and fought to keep her face from him. With resistless strength, and yet carefully as mother with an obstinate child he held her slight body against his breast, relent- lessly drawing her head closer. Let me go!' she panted, twisting her avert ed head from the hollow of his arm. Drinking in the wine of her frightened breath, he bent over her in the dark ness until his pulsing eagerness linked her warm lips to his own. She had surrendered to her first kiss.
 He spoke. "The gulf's crossed. Are you so awfully wretchedT
 They sank together down on the bench. "What," she faltered, twill be- come of me now?"
 You are better off now than you ever were, Nan. You've gained this moment big brother, lover you can drag around the world after you with piece of thread"
 You act as if could"