The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1917-04-12

has run through my head and through
: teasing my memory like strain o
music from some half-rememberet
song. 1t half-maddens me; l feel 81
strongly that everything would be 81
straight and plain and clear between
us, If l could only fasten upon tina
fugitive, indefinable something that's
always fluttering just beyond my
grasp"
"You mean all that-honestly?" she
demanded in an oddly startled voice.
Most honestly" He looked up in
excitement. "You don't mean you've
felt anything of the sort?"
mo, T'-her voice broke as If with
Weariness-"I don't mean that, pre-
cisely, I mean Probably don't
know what 1 do mean. I'm really
very tired, too tired to 60 on, just
now-to sit here with you, badgering
our poor wits with esoteric subtleties.
l think-do you mind?-Td better go
in"
She rose quickly, without waiting for
hc hand. Whitaker Strengthened out
his long body with more deliberatlon,
standing finally at full height, his
grave and moody countenance strongly
relieved In the rudy glow while her
face was all in shadow.
Zone moment" he begged humbly-
before we go In. I've some
thing else to say to you. If may"
Cho u-oitod corio11cIx
II haven't played fair, I'm afraid"
he said, lowering his head to escape
her steadfast gaze. "Ive just told
you that love you, but :"
"Well?" she demanded in an odd,
ringing voice. isn't it true?
'"True?' He laughed unnaturally.
ITS so true wish I had died before
I told you'll"
"Please explain" she urged trace
YEARLY.
a." he stammered-I am already
She gave a little, stif1ed cry
of pain or horror or of indig- |
nation he could not tell.
"Tm sorry-I-" he began.
Don't you think you might have
thought of this before?"
II you don't understand"
$50 it would SEEM" she put In
cruelty.
"Please hear me! It was several
years ago / married a girl I'd never
seen before, to help her out Of a des-
perate scrape she'd got into. We
never lived together, never even saw
one another after that hour. She
lad every reason to think me dead
is l should have been, by rights. But
low she knows that I'm alive-is about
o sue for divorce"
After a long pause, during which
neither stirred, she told him, in a faint
'oice: "Thank you"
She moved toward the house.
"If you will forgive me-"
"Oh, forgive you, Mr.. Whitaker.
Iy heart is really not quite so fragile
IS all this implies. l think I'll go
o bed. I'm very, very tired, in spite
f my sleep on the sands. That didn't
est me, really"
They returned to the kitchen.
In silence, while Whitaker fidgeted
bout the room, awkward and I'M
Apply, the girl removed a glass lamp
rom the shelf above the sink, as
ured herself that it was filed, and
GIFTED 1t. Then over her shoulder:
81 hope you don't mean to stay up
II night"
'T-well, I'm really not sleepy"
"As soon as you feel the least need
sleep, you'll go to bedr
81 promise"
Every well, then"
The insistent note faded from her
mes. She moved toward the table,
It the lamp down, and hesitated in S
lie of her strange, unpresaged moods o
diffidence, looking down at the n
Iger-tips with which she traced a Il
pattern on the oil-cloth. VI
"You are kind" she said abruptly, et
r head bowed, her face hidden from
u. 3
'KindI" he echoed, dumfounded. m
You are kind and sweet and gen. ii,
,us to me-" she insisted I'm a level IA
Ice. You have shown me your an
lrt-the heart of gentleman-with- of
reserve: but Of me you have te
,d1 nothing" Gu
i don't understand"
/ mean, you haven't once referred Sc
what happened last night. You've we
n content to let me preserve my Of
hdence. TO remain secretive end TO
steriOuS in your sight. That the
how seem % you-lsn't itT- an