Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1917-03-01
CHAPTER ElGHT.-(continued).

1t was such a brutal thing to
do!' she exclaimed, land so UNI
necessary, SO inexcusable, so I'M
justifiable!"
"All OF us make Mistakes" he
said gently.
Il did not know of it until this
morning, she explained furthes,
shame for her fathers discourtesy
flushing her cheeks. He told me
at breakfast what he had done"
Il am sorry-sorry it has an
noyed you,' he assured her.
Il can't understand, she said,
"why he did It'll" She added
Even ii he dislikcd you, disap-
proved of you, why couldn't he
have made some allowance for
for the fact that | was your
friend2"
"~Perhaps," he smiled, "that
was what he didn't exactly like"
When they had swung into the
road that follows southwark along
the bank of the river, she stopped
the machine.
u think I'd like to walk down
there and stand on the edge Of the
river, she informed him. ''Some-
how, talking, real conversation, is
SO very difficult in a machine"
They went down the sloping
bank, the long grass pulling at
their feet, and stood on the rocks
that riprapped the bank. Behind
them was the tall, wavy curtain of
the great willows. Before them
the river, slow and heavy, was
like dulled silver except when,
here and there, the breeze moved
it to catch the whitenss of the sun
light. Beyond the water were the
Virginia hills, all yellow and gold
and crimson, a light blue haze
hanging over them like a thin
veil. A freight train, bound south
ward, ratified across the long
bridge. And far down, below the
bridge, sounded a steamboat s
whistle.
They seemed strangely alone.
unnaturally isolated from the rest
of the world.
What a lovely city it isl" he
said, voicing his enthusiasm. "And
what lovely places hedge it about
1t IS the loveliest city in all the
world"
Yes" she agreed absently.
She was drawing off one of her
gloves, not knowing at all what
she did. She was regarding the
haze covered hills.
Il wanted to tell you,' she be.
gan, a little hesitant, "that L
wanted to tell you with all the
earnestness Of which I am capable
that | always shall be-you1
friend"
He was unaccountably touched
by her manner.
"You + very kind" he said
making a bow which, in spite Of its
apparent lightness of gesture
somehow emphasized his real feel
ings.
"Oh!'' she replied desperately
Its so easy to be kindl"
"Not altogether, I think"
but" she continued, II am
also very humble"
She drew her lower lip between
her teeth, and stood a moment
pulling slowly through her gloved
hand the glove she had taken off
"Humble!' he exclaimed.
YES" she said, her voice low.
cred, humble"
She turned to him abruptly
dropping her hands to her sides
so that she faced him, willowy
straight, her eyes soft and glowing
with the golden sunlight that fel
full upon her face. Her lips
trembled.
II know! / know now!" SHE
said.
Involuntarily, he took one steI
backward, away from her.
know WHAT" he asked, won
dering.
She was pressing her lips to
gether now, to imprison sobs.
1T was so foolish of me not t,
have known the other day!" sh,
reproached herself. "You canno
tell me who you are because 20,
don't know"
Her eyes were q mandate tina
he tell her the truth.
"That lis true" he said, mex
plicably calm. II do not know VIII,
I am
He waited for her to speak an,
saw that she could not.
should have told you whel
yop asked me-" he added. s
should have known that you woul,
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