The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-03-31
.Ask MIN 10 cana along"

lighted naH. Ousns A"s
.T'll stay here at the door while you
60"
Irresolute, sho let hc- eyes rest
again for fraction Of a second on mis-
eyes: when she drew breath after
that pause everything was over. "fd
better give him his medicine first" she
said looking toward the sickroom door.
HIS monosyllabic answer was calm:
DO" Then as she laid hcs hand on
the knob Of Use door to enter ifc loom:
"Can I help anyr'
"Oh, n,a!" she cried Indignantly.
He laughed silently: "Tl stay here"
Nan disappeared. Lounging against
the windowsill opposite the door, ne
waited. After G long tine the door
was stealthily reopened. Nan tiptoed
ont. She closed 1t softly behind her:
~ waited for him to go to Sleep" she
explained as she started down the cor
ridor with Dc Spain. Hes had 80
much pain today--I hcpe ne sleeps
81 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 fcotfGNa: tzAeo TO MAXI
talk; but Nan was silent.
Standing on the wide veranda QUO
side the front door, she assented "a
the beauty of the distant illumination,
but not enthusiastically. De Span
declared it could be seen very much
better from the street below. Nan
thought she could see very well wbere
they stood. But by this time she was
answering questions-dryly, 1t is true,
and In monosyllables, but answering
De Spain leading the way step OF
two forward at tiuao, cssxvd ksf
down the driveway.
She stood again irresolute, he drinS'
ing in the fragrance Of her presence
after the long separation and playing
her reluctance guardedly. do ycr
know" she exclaimed with sudden re
sentiment, "you make 1t awfully hart
to be mean to your"
With laugh ne caught her haIt
and made her walk down the hospita
steps. "You may be as mean as yor
like" he answered ipdiderently. "Only
never ask me to be meah to VOC"
| Oh tn yfnf1ld he
she retorted.
"Do you remember" he sske6. "wha
we were doing yesr Egc today?"
"No." Before he cauld speak agaiI
she changed her answer: "fes, d,
remember. If said mo- yca'6 De sur
to remind me of what we were doing
We can't see as well here as we coui'
from the steps,"
"But from here, you have the bcs
view in Sleepy Cat of Music mountain.
ave didn't come out here to see Mz
sic mountain"
II come here often to look at It. Yo'
won't let me see you-what can l d
but look at where you live? How lon
are you going to keep me away?"
! Nan did not answer. He urged lie
to speak. "You know very well It 4
my people that will never be friend,
with you," she replied. "How can
beY'
They were passing lawn settes
He sat down. She would not follow
She stood in sos:: 81 protest at hi
side, but he did not release her hand
"Tll tell you how ycu can be-" he "a
turned. "Make me eos Of your people.
'"That never can be-" she declare,
stubbornly. you know it as well q
1 do. Why do you say such thingsY
she demanded, drawing away her hand
DO you want to known"
mo"
TITS because love you"
She strove to command herself
whether you do or iot can't max
any difference" she returned steadily
1--WE are separated by everything
There's gSAH between us. 1t neva
can be crossed. We should both O
us be wretched if it ever were crossed.
He had risen from the bench an
caught her hand. tits because w
haven't crossed it we're wretched." b
said determinedly. "Cross II with N
now!" He caught her in his arm
She struggled to escape. She kne,
what was coming and fought to kee
her face from him. With resistles
strength, and yet carefully as a moths
|. with an obstinate child, he held k4
slight body against his breast, relen,
iessly drawing her head closer. "Le
me goF' she painted, twisting her aver
ed head from the hollow of his arm
Drinking in the wine of her frightcne
breath, he bent over her In the darl
ness until his pulsing eagerness linke
her warm lips to his own. She ha
surrendered to her first kiss.
He spoke. "The CULTS crossed Ar
you so awfully wretchedT
They sank together down on tn
! bench. what" she faltered, "wlII b,
come of me nowf"
You are better off now than 20
; ever were. Nan. You've gained thI
moment big brother, a lover YOU ca
drag around the world after VOC wi.
a piece of thread"
you act as If COULD
Il mean it; it's true. I'm pledged
you forever-you, to me forever. We
: Keep our secret till we can manao