Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1917-02-16

The third time he stood behind the
back of the chair in which she had
been sitting. She saw that the
t%autness, the rigidity, which had
been ia his figure had gone into
his features.
"There is-there was," he be-
gan, "a tragedy. Surely l can tell
you that"
He paused, discounted, search
ing for the words to make his
story. She leaned forward, her
eyes like stars. 1t was as if she
held out to him a helping hand.
LET me illustrate, if you WILL"
he continued. 81 know you will
understand. There was a time
when l thought of love, of mar
riage, of the woman. l have a
wandering fancy. l have often
thought that she was near. At the
theater sometimes / have been
convinced that in the soft notes of
q violin there was the echo of her
voice. l fancicd that the swaying
flowers in the park we're intended
specially to give me some idea Of
the exquisite sweetness of her
presence. l believe that all the
love songs of ali the poets had
been written merely as predic-
tons of the unfailing sympathy
and wonderful understanding I
was to find i'll her soul"
He paused and looked at her,
his eyes burning with the fierce
ness Of the conflict within him.
You thought .hat-once?" she
said, her voice, TOO, little more
than a whisper.
eyes, once," he answered,
struggling for all his self. control ;
but not now. l do not permit
myself. And / know, I feel, that l
need say no more. 1t is, believe
me, impossible for my past to in
terest you"
His eyes sought to compel. her
assent. She turned toward the
fire and stared at the flames, her
lips forming a half smile.
There is something I have
wanted for a long time to tell you
something about yourself" she
said at last.
About myself"
About you-and it was some
time ago, a long time ago-fve
years ago.
His two hands grasped the back
OF the chair convulsively. His arms
trembled like heavy wires.
"If there is anything you
KNOW he begged, the rigidity
of his features breaking up,
whether it be to my credit or my
discredit, I implore you to tell
me-"
"You actually look frightened
Almost" she said.
me, not that" he managed to
answer with difficulty.
He hung over the back of the
chair, his arms set out from fis
sides and trembling noticeably
while she told him:
"a little more than five wears
ago there was in Cincinnati !
house of refuge for poor men
men who were down and out. The
only rule governing the house
was that no man could stay there
for more than four days, thu
theory being that limit Of sta,
had to be set in order to avoil
having the place occupied always
by worthless people. -Four day,
was usually long enough for then
to find something to do. It was m,
money, rather my fathers money
which supported that house Q,
refuge. It was called the Mallol
Mission for Men, and | gave it m,
personal supervision
His whole body shot forward, 8,
that he seemed to be hanging owe,
the chair in danger, Of falling. Hi
eyes famed anew, and his lowe,
lip quivered.
And was there! he inter
rupted her. rs that: what your
going to say3"
"Justsa moment, please" oh,
begged gently. Hissa4itation "a.
communicated itself to her. m,
quickness Of her breathing mad,
lt&f her brat : little tunult. "Th,