The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1918-02-21
CHAPTER xiv--contlovsd

10
~You won't even give me the Door
satisfaction Of knowing whnt you're
doing" he said.
I'D love to" she said. "to be able 20
write to- you, hear from you every day,
but ] don't believe you want 10 know.
I think II would he too hard for you.
Because you'd have 10 promise not TO
try to yet me back-not 10 come and
rescue me II ] got into trouble and
things went badly and ! didn't know
where to turn. Could you PROMISE
that, Roddy3"
He gave n groan and buried his face
1n his hands Then:
-No," he said furlously. "Of course
I couldn't. Soc you suffering md
stnnd by with my hands In my pockets
and watch !" He sprang up and seized
her by tho arms in a grip that actually
left bruises, and fairly shook her In the
agony OF his entreaty. Tell me It's q
nightmare, Rose" he said. Tell Mo II
aU't true Wake me up out OF IT,"
But under the indomitnblo resolution
NJ her blue eyes he turned away. This
uas he last appeal Of that sort that
no made
"rl PROMISE" sho said presently, "to
be scnSble-not to take any risks I
don't have TO take. Til regard my life,
and my health and all. rs something
I'm keeping In trust for you. I'll take
plenty OF warm. sensible clothes when
I 20; lots OF shoes and stockings-
things like that and. II you1l let me
I'll borrow a hundred dollars to start
myself of with. II isn't q tragedy,
Roddy--not that part OF It. You
wouldn't DO afraid for anyone else as
big md strong and healthy rs l."
Gradually, u Of a weiter Of scenes
like TINT, the thing got itself recog-
mixed ms something that wns TO happen.
But the parting anne at last in q little
different way from u they had fore-
seen
Rodney zane homo from his office
early one afternoon, with a Telegram
thnt summoned him to New York TO q
conference Of counsel In n big public
utility cast he had been working on
for months He must leave, II he were
going ut nll. at FIVE o'clock. He ran
sacked the house, vuinly at first, for
Rose, and found her at Inst in the
trunk room-dusty, dlshevelcd, sobblng
quietly over something she Rugged In
her arms But she dried her eyes and
came over to him and asked him what
1t was that Ind brought him home so
early.
He showed her the telegram. "Tl
have to leave in an hour" he said,
".if I'm to 60"
She paled at TINT. and sat down
rnther giddily on the trunk. You
must CO." she said, "of course. And
Roddy. I guess thnt1l be tho easiest
why. I'll get my telegram tonight
pretend to get it-from Portia. And
you can give M the hundred dollars,
and then, when you come back, I'll be
gone"
The thing she had been holding In
her hands slipped to the floor. Re
stopped and picked 1t up-stared at It
with q sort of h~alf-wakened recogni-
ton.
~ found IT," she explained. among
ONE old things Portia sent over when
she moved. Do you know what 1t Is?
It's m OF the notebooks that got wet
that first night when we were put of
the street car. And-Roddy. look Z"
She opened It to au almost blank
page, and with a weak little laugh
pointed to the thing that was written
there March IS, 1927"
Your birthday, you see. and tho day
me mel each other"
And then. down below. the only note
she had made during the whole Of that
lecture. no read Never marry a man
with q passion for principles"
that's the trouble with Us, you see,"
abe said. IF you were Just an ordi-
mary man without any big passions oil
anything. II wouldn't matter much II
your life got spoiled. But with us,
you see. we've got TO try for the big
gcst thing there is. Oh, Roddy. Roddy
dariingi Hold me tight for Just a
minute. and then I'll come and help
you pack"
CHAPTER XIV.