Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1917-04-26

'ea ~
On the dry when X. had told Max his
reason for giving up his work. Sidney
spent her hour with Max that evening
as usual. His big chair had been
drawn close to q window. and she
found him there. looking II She
kissed him. But instead Of letting her
draw away. he put out his arms and
caught her to him.
"Srnile at me. You don't smile any
more. You ough, to smile; your
| mouth"
Il am almost always tired: that's all.
Max"
She eyed him braeely.
Aren't you going to let me make
love TO you ut ALI You get away be-
You'd my reach"
II was looking for the paper to read
to you"
A sudden suspicion famed in his
eyes.
"Sidney, you don't like me to touch
you any more. Come here where l u
see you"
The fear of agitating him brought
her quickly. For 4 moment he was ap-
peased.
That's more Ike it. How lovely you
are, Sidney" He lifted first one hand
aud then the other to his lips. Are
you ever going to forgive meT"
IF you mean about Carlotta. l for
gave that long ago."
He was almost boyishly relieved.
What q wonder she was! So lovely.
and so sane. Many n woman would
have held that over him for years-not
that he had done anything really wrong
on that nightmare excursion. But SO
many women are eNigent about prom
ises.
when are yen going TO marry ne?"
I'VE needn't discuss that tonight,
Max. Can't we talk things over when
You are s%tronEer?"
turned him a little white. He faced
her to the window, so that the light fell
on her.
"What things? What do you mean?"
He had forced her hand. She had
meant to wait; but, with his keen eyes
on her, she could not disseinble.
Il am going to make you very un-
happy for a little WHILE
"Well?'
i've had a lot of time to think. 1t
isn't that ! am angry. l am not Eel
jealous. l was at first. 1t isn't that.
It's hard to make you understand. /
think you care for me"
But, good heavens. Sidney, you do
care for me, don't your"
I'm afraid l don't, Max; not
enough"
She tried to explain, rather pltlfully.
After one look at his face, she spoke
TO the window.
Pm SO wretched about 1t. I thought
I cared. To me you were the best and
. greatest nan that ever lived. I-when
! said my prayers, l. But that doesn't
| matter. You We're a sort of god to
me-
He groaned under his breath.
mo mar could live up to that, Sid
ney."
mo. l see that now. But that's the
way l cared. It's just that / never
loved the real you, because / never
knew you"
When he remained silent. she made
an attempt to justify herself.
"Id known very few men," she said.
Il came into the hospital. and for a
time life seemed very terrible. There
were Weaknesses l had never heard
Of. and somebody always paying for
them. l was always asking, Why?
Why? Then you would come in, and a
lot of them you cured and sent out.
You gave them their chance, don't you
see? Until ! | knew about Carlotta, you
always meant that to me. You were
like Railways helping"
The room was very silent. In the
nurses parlor, a few feet down the cor
ridor. the nurses were at prayers.
YEA. though l walk through the val.
ley Of the shadow Of death"
The man in the chair stirred. He
hnd cone through the valley Of the
shadow, and for what? He WINS very
bitter. He said to himself savagcly
that they would better have let him
die.
"You say you never loved me because
you never knew me. I'm not a rotter.
Sidney. Isn't It possible that the man
you cared about, who-who did his
best by people and oil that's the real
me?"
She gazed Mt him thonghtfully. He
missed something out Of her eyes. the
sort Of luminous. wistful greatness.
Measured by this new glance, 50 clear,
so appraislng, he shrank back Into his
chair.
1.-THE mar who did his best IA quite
real. You have always done your best
in your work; you always will. but
the other Is a part Of you too, Max.
EveK4f'I cared. I would not dare to
run the risk"
She took n step toward the door.
hesitated. came back. and put q light
hand on his shoulder.
I'm sorry. dear MIX"
She had kissed him lightly on the
cheek before he knew what sl,o intend.
cd to do. 30 p~asslonicss was the little
carcss that, perhaps more than any.
thing else, II typided tho change 10
their relation.
When the door closed behind her. be
saw that she had LETT her ring on the