New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1917-03-09
CHAPTER XIX--Continued.

--l0-
"You are not IL child any longer, sid
noy. You have learned Il great deal
in this last year. one of the things
YOU know is that almost every man
has small affairs, many of them some
times, before he finds the woman he
wants to marry. When he finds her,
the others are all oir-there's nothing
to them, It's the real thing then, in
stead of the sham"
"Pulmer was very much in love with
Christine. and yet
palmer is a cad"
81 don't want You ia think I'm max
ing terms. I'm not. But if this thing
went on, and | found out nftcrward
that you-that there vas anyone else,
it would kill me-"
"rhen You care, after al"
There a. something boyiSh in his
which he held out his arms, like a child
who has escaped II whipping. lie
stood up and, catching her hands, drew
her to her feet. "You love me, dear
I'm afraid l do, Max"
Then I'm yours, and only yours, if
you want me-" he said, and took her in
his arms.
He WAS %riotously happy, must hold
her off for the joy Of drawing her to
him again, must pull off her gloves
and kiss her soft bare palms.
Il love you. love YOU" he cried, and
bent down to bury his face in the
warm hollow of her neck.
Sidney glowcd under his caress-was
rather startled ut his passion, u little
ashamed.
"Tell me you love me a little bit.
Say it,"
Glove YOU" said Sidney, and flushed
scarlet.
But even in his arms, with the warm
sunlight on his radiant face, with his
lips to her ear, whispering the divine
absurdities of passion, in the back of
her obstinate little head was the
thought that while she had given him
her first embrace, he had held other
women in his arms. 1t made her pas
sive, prevented her complete surren-
der.
She broke the news of her engage
ment to X. herself, the evening of the
same day. The little house was quiet
wben she got out of the car at the
door. IIarriet was asleep on the couch
ut the foot of her bed, and Christine's
rooms were empty. She went upstairs
to the room that had been her moth
er's, and took off her hat. She wanted
TO be alone, to realize what had hap
pened to her. a year ago her half
promise to Joe had gratitied her sense
of romance. She was loved, and she
lad thrilled to it.
But this was different. Marriage,
that had been but IL vision then. loomed
large, almost menacing. She had
learned the law of compensation: that
for every joy one pays in suffering,
Women who married went down into
the valley of death for their children.
One must love and be loved very ten
derby TO pay for that. The scale must
balance.
Harriet was stirring, across the hall.
Sidney could hear her moving about
with flat, inclastic steps.
That was the alternative. One mar
ricd, happily or not rs he case might
be, and tOok the risk. Or one stayed
single, like Harriet, growing n little
hard. exchanging SlimneSS for lean
ness and austcrity of figure, ilat-cheSt-
cd, ]thin-voiccd. All at once it seemed
very terrible to her. She felt as if she
had been caught in an memorable hand
that had closed about her.
Harriet found her Il little later, face
down ON her mothers bed crying as If
her neart would break. She scolded
her roundly.
you've been overwOrking," she said.
"You've been getting thinner. Your
measurements for that suit showed it.
I have never approved of this hospital
trimming, and after last January"
She could hardly credit her senses
when Sidney, still swollen with weep
ing. told her of her engagement.
But / don't understand. If you care
for him and he has asked you to marry
him, why on earth are you crying your
eyes Out?"
81 do care / don't know why / cried.
1t just came over me, all at once, that
l. 1t was just foOlishness. ! am
very happy. Aunt Harriet"
Harriet. thought she understood. The
girl needed her mother, and she, Har-
riet, was a hard, middle-aged woman
and Il poor substitute. She patted Sid
ney's moist hand.
Il guess l understand" she said. "Tll
attend to your wedding things, Sidney.
Wen show this street that even Chris
tire Lorenz can be Outdone." And, as
an afterthought: 81 hope Max Will
son will settle down now. He's been
rome too steady"
1t was late when X. got home. Sid
ney was sitting on the low step, wait
ing for him. With a long breath
of content, X. folded up his long length
on the step below her.
swell, dear ministering angel" he
said, "how goes the world?"
Things have been happening, K"
He sat erect and looked at her. 1t
$40 a pomoof hafora ho Snoka He