Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1917-10-19
THE HILLMAN

DO you think that I could live with
you up there In the hills?"
I'VE will live" he promised, amy.
where you choose in the world"
"Ah, no" she continued, patting his
hand. "Y0u know what your life Is
the things you want In life. You don't
know mine yet. There Is my work
You cannot think how wonderful 1t is
to me. You don't know the things that
fill my brain from day to day, the
thoughts that direct my life. | cannot
marry you just because-because--'
because what?" he interrupted ea'
gerly.
Because you make me feel-some.
thing l don't understand, because you
come and you turn the world, for few
minutes, topsy-turvy. But that is all
foolishness, Isn't 1T Life Isn't built up
Of emotions. What want you to IN
derstand, and what you please must
understand, Is that ut present our
lives are SO far, 80 very far, apart. |
do not feel l could be happy leading
yours, and you do not understand
NINE"
IL have come to find out about
yours" John explained. "That is why
| am here. Perhaps ought to have
waited little time before | spoke to
you as did just now. But will serve
my apprenticeship. / will try to get
into sympathy with the things that
please you. 1t will not take me long
AS soon as you feel that we are draw
ing closer together, will ask you
again what / have asked you this after
noon. In the meantime, may be your
friend, may l not? You will let me
see great deal of you? You will
help me just llttle?"
Louise leaned back in her chair She
had been carried off her feet, brought
face to face with emotions which she
dared not analyze. Perhaps, after all
her self-dissectlon, there were still Sc.
cret chambers. She thought almost
with fear of what they might contain,
Her sense of superiority was vanish.
ing. She was, after all, like other
women.
"Yes," she promised, II will help
We will leave It at that. Some day
you shall talk to me again, If you like.
In the meantime, remember we are both
free. You have not known many wom-
EN-, and you may change your mind
when you have been longer In London.
Perhaps 1t will be better for you II
you dor
THAT is quite impossible" John said
firmly. "You see,' he went on, look
Ing at her with shining eyes, II know
now what half believed from the first
that | saw you. | love you"
Springlng restlessly to her feet. she
walked across the room and back
again. Action Of some sort seemed i'm
perative. A curious hypnotic feeling
seemed to be dulllng all her powers
" resistance. She looked into her life
md she was terrified. Everything had
grown Insignificant 1t couldn't really
De possible that with her brains. her
this man who had dwelt all
his life in the simple ways had yet the
)ower to show her the path toward the
greater things! She felt like a child
lgaln. She trembled little as she
vat down by his side. II was not in
his fashion that she had intended to
lear what he had to say.
II don't know what Is the matter
With me today" she murmured dis
81 think | must send you
way. You disturb my thoughts. |
ant see life clearly. Don't hope for
90 much from me- she begged. "But
lon't go away" she added, with a sud
len Irresistible impulse Of anxiety.
oh, / wish-I wish you understood me
md everything about me, without my
laving to say world"
Il feel what you are" he answered,
and that is sufficient"
Once more she rose 70 her feet and
walked across to the window. An au-
omoblle had stopped In the street be-
ow. She looked down upon 1t with
sudden frozen feeling of apprehen-
ion.
John moved to her side, and for him,
90, the JOY OF those few moments was
louded. A little SILVER Of PRESENT.
1eLt took Its place. He recognized the
ootman whom he saw standing upon
he pavement.
1T is the prince of Seyre," Louise
altered.
Send him away" John begged.
We haven't finished yet. 1 won't say
nything more to upset you. What |
'ant now Is some practical guidance"
Il cannot send him awayw
John glanced toward her and hated
imself for his fierce jealousy. She
Tas looking very white and very pa
hetic. The light had gone from her
yes. He felt suddenly dominant, and
nth that feeling, there came all the
enerosity of the conqueror.
Goodbye he said. perhaps I can
ee you sometime tomorrow. q
He raised her hand to his lips and
Used her fingers, one by one. Then
e left the room. She listened to his
ootsteps descending the stairs, firm,
esolute, deliberate. They paused,
here was the sound of notes.-the
rince and he were exchanging greet
ngs; then she heard other footsteps
scending. lighter, smoother, yet just ,
s deliberate.
Her face grew paler as she listened
here was something which sounded
0 her almost like the beating Of fate