Mexico Missouri message., 1917-02-01

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She waited until she found him alone
in the shop, the little room which had
once meant to him the beginning of
life's joyousness and life's hopes; and
which was now prison house whence
ghosts of yesterdays mocked him with
their memories.
He was about to close its doors for
the day.
Toinette summoned all her strength.
The tower of pride was tottering; it
can be sent down in ruins so easily
when a girl throws down the weapon
of her sex!
II can't stand 1t any longer, David"
she said breathlessly, "to see you suf-
fer. know you are suffering, because
I-because because it hurts me so"
What glorious crash the tower
madel
David took quick step toward her.
His pulses throbbed ungovernably.
"Toinette, what do you meant" His
face was glorious. "Have you--do you
believe in me nowT
"You have blotted out all the past,
David" she said simply.
The joy suddenly left his face.
"But the past" he said, in dread of
what her answer might be, "the past
have you forgotten why you drove me
from your Have you forgotten what
treason you charged me with?"
She waved the words aside. "That
is all past now, David. 1t is the fu-
ture that is everything. And know
now what you mean to me-"
He clenched his hands at his side.
He would be patient. Was 1t possible
that she still believed the empty SIAN
der against his loyalty?
mo, Toinette," he said, as gently as
he could, II have not forgotten your
charge against me. can never for
get it until you say that you were
wrong"
The tower Of pride reared itself up
again from its dust. Why must he
ask her to humble herself still further,
when she had already said so much?
She was silent. He waited for her
answer, but none came; and at last,
he bowed gravely.
'Then it is useless to talk of--for-
getting. Please let US end this foolish
play"
He moved as though to go on with
his work.
"Wait, Davidl" she said TREMENDOUSLY.
Her eyes were blinded with tears. Her
fingers had been plucking nervously at
purple ribbon which hung from her
bodice.
"Wait, I want to give you--a re-
membrance." She lifted the great
shears from the counter and clipped
the silken cord from its fastenings. A
tear ran down and stained 1t with a
darker color. Her fingers twisted the
sorry token, quickly twisted it into a
wistful emblem such as happy lovers
laughingly give each other--a lovers
knot. She raised her face and her
blue eyes smiled wanly through the
mist that clouded them.
"Here. David, take this-just to be
foolish, just to be foolish for once"
He took 1t. His hand was trembling.
But his face was steel, unforgiving.
ALI his yearning for her burned in his
breast, a white caldron Of passion ;
but around 1t closed the unyielding
walls Of his cold passion for his honor.
He could never forget that she had
doubted him once. Until that stain
had been washed away, he could not
forgive. He remembered the young
Sir Philip Sidney of whom her father,
old Patrice, had so often told him-of
his proud guardianship of the white
shield of manly honor; he himself had
been only a wearer, but here, In this
new country, he was man; and his
honor must be firstl
'ATolnette," he said In low voice
"who told you that I had acted as O
spy1"
The blood rushed to her cheeks
This, too, she would give him.
doctor Elliott" she whispered, with
bent head.
"Who is hef" cried David in a fury,
'.That young doctor who comes here
from Louisville2, In Gods name, what
has he against met I've never seen
the mani But do you believe hin
stillT"
''You have never-neyer denied
never" she stopped miserably. She
could not raise her eyes to face him
'Then nothing else matters, Toin
ette."
ooh, David, that doesn't matter eli
therl" she cried. Nothing matters
1 want you In spite of thatp'
4 But he shook his head.
i She became very pale again.
4 II have offered all / have" she sai(
proudly, II have nothing more to give
II can take nothing from you while
you believe me guilty. My name is al
have to give you"
Her answer scarcely reached hi
ear:
''oh, David, let our love be enough
!. The light had faded from the sky
David looked down at her bent hea'
/ and trembled.