The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1918-01-19


telegraph poles, somewhere on the 9th
er side Of the gray haze which hung
about the myriad roofs, John and
Louise were working out their destiny,
speaking at last the naked truth to
each other.
She started suddenly back into the
room. There was a knocking at the
door, something quite different from
her landlady's summons. She wrapped
her dreSSing-gOwn around her, pulled
the curtains around the little bed on
which she had striven to rest, and
moved toward the door. She turned
the handle softly.
"Who is that?" she asked.
John almost pushed his way past
her. She closed the door with nerve
less fingers. Her eyes sought his face,
her lips were parted. She chung to the
back of the chair.
"You have seen Louise?" she ex-
claimed breathlessly.
II have seen Louise" he answered.
at is all Overt"
She looked a little helplessly around
her. Then she selected the one chair
in the tiny apartment that was likely
to hold him, and led him to ii.
"Please sit down" she begged, sand
tell me about it. You mustn't despair
like this all at once. wonder if 1
could help"
"No one can help" ne told her grim
Will
I would rather not talk any more about
it. 1 didn't come here to talk about
1t. I came to see you. So this is
why're you live"
He looked around him, and for mo-
ment he almost forgot the pain which
was gnawing at his heart. 1t was such
simple, plainly furnished little room,
so clean, so neat, so pathetically elo-
quent of poverty. She drew closer to-
gether the curtains which concealed
the little chints-covered bed, and came
and sat down by his side.
She clasped her hands tighter
around his arm. Her eyes sought his
anxiously.
"But you mustn't climb down, john
| she insisted. "You are so much nicer
where you are, so much too good for the
silly, ugly things. You must fight this
1 in your own way, fight 1t according to
your own standards. You are too good
! to come down"
sam too good for you, Sophy?'
She looked at him, and her whole
! face seemed to soften. The light in
her blue eyes was sweet and wistful
A bewildering little smile curled her
lips.
Don't be stupid" she begged. "a
| few minutes ago I was looking out OF
my window and thinking what a poor
little morsel of humanity I am, and
what useless, drifting life have led
But that's foolish. Come now! VIVA,
1 want to persuade you to do is tc
90 back to Cumberland for time
and try hard-very hard indeed-tt
realize what it means to be woman
like Louise, with her temperament
her intense intellectual curiosity, hel
charm. Nothing could make Louise
different from what she is-a dear
sweet woman and great artist. And
John, I believe she loves you"
His face remained. undisturbed ever
by the flicker of an eyelid.
"Sophy," he said, II have decided
to go abroad. VIII you come witt
me"
She sat quite still. Again her face
was momentarily transformed. All 1t
pallor and fatigue seemed to have van
ished. Her head had fallen q little back
She was looking through the ceilini
into heaven. Then the light died ava.
almost as quickly as it had come. He
lips shook TREMENDOUSLY.
"You know you don't mean 1t, John
You wouldn't take me. And If you die
you'd hate me afterward-you'd wan
to send me back"
He suddenly drew her to him, hi
arm went around her waist. She ha
lost all power Of resistance. For tn
first time in his life of his own DELFT
crate accord, he kissed her-feverish
ly, almost roughly.
"Sophy," he declared, 81 have been
fool! I have come an awful croppel
but you might help me with what
left. l am going to start afresh.
am going to get rid Of some of thes
: ideas Of mine which have brought m
: nothing but misery and disappoin
, ment. I don't want to live up to the1
t any longer want to just forge
: them. 1 want to live as other me
live-just the simple, ordinary Lift
J Come with me! I'll take you to tn
3 places we've talked about together.
am always happy and contented wit
. you. Let's try It'll"
Her arms stole around his neck.
J. John" she whispered, hiding he
, face for q moment. what can say
e What could any poor, weak little ere;
;. ture like me say? You know / al
, fond of you'll haven't had the prid
I even, to conceal it!''
He stood up, held her face for
e moment between his hands, and kisse
her forehead.
"Then that's all settled" he d
clared. 81 am going back to my room
now. l want you to come and dir
r with me there tonight, at eigl
s o'clock"
: Her eyes sought his, pleaded wit