The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1919-12-12

ontiy inUnerent interest:
why don't you ask me for an
otherY
~ don't want to poster you. espe-
clally when your tall. young blond
friend, who dances SO divinely, II
around"
"Oh. hate hint"
"W'hat?"
~ said hate him."
"Tsat's queer" he said In surprise.
'rhen why favor him so often during
the evening""
Sometimes. you know. when you
can't have what you want most. you
take what you want least. just out Of
self-spite"
This somewhat puzzling answer
passed unchallenged. His mind had
gone quickly to something else. Sud-
denly he spoke with apparent ir-
relevance. on dangerous grouni.
"You know. you once called mean
idiot. It's pretty easy to see that you
still feel that way; that's why every
| body knows we'd be safe at the end of
the world without any intrusive ma
irons around to offer refreshment at
the proper moment"
She seemed to vince q little at
that. At least. he felt her arm tight
en- on his; but the way was becoming
rougher, and he noticed how difficult
1t was for her to walk over the sharp.
uneven stones In her delicate pumps.
Here and there. her graceful, fragile
ankle would bend as her foot slipped,
and he felt that she needed more aid.
He knew he should put his arm
| around her-he wanted to do so in
tensely. yet he had made up his mind.
| Should he do it, with her enhancing
presence close to him. her lovely head
against his shoulder. he knew he
would fail In what he had once prom
Used himself. Pride had helped him
keep that promise for long time. and
he would not tempt failure now.
They were far out on the rocky
point; the wild waters leaped about
them on both sides of the narrow
land waves coming In from mid
ocean shattered themselves at their
feet in an instant. Everything SEEM
ed big and elemental; sea, rocks. and
gray mists.
He wanted to tell her things; things
that were with him day and night.
He wanted to crush her frail little
figure against him, and lift her up
over these sharp stones. Pride. after
all, was out of place here; a puny
thing.
But she had once called him an
idiot when he was telling her these
things. long ago. and she had laughed.
She still thought so, no doubt. He
would never let her laugh again.
He looked at her and saw that she
had been watching him. He thought
he caught "A strange, far-away CLEAN
in her eyes. But she looked down in
stantly.
And then they saw that they were
standing where they had stood years.
before, In the rocks at the farthest
point, with the sea all about; once be-
fore, when the sun had leaped from
crest to crest, and the view had ter
minated only with the horizon. One
could afford to have laughed then.
Now they were shut In by the heavy,
gray world; alone, terribly alone.
With grim laugh, he said. swell. I
might start being romantic now, II
you wouldn't be insulted. I could say
the regular thing. I'm just crazy
about your ways; your eyes have SO
much soul. and there's such a thrill
In your voice for me. May l caress
your hair, it's So"
Not until then he saw, quite star.
tied, how deeply he was hurting her.
Don't; please, please don't, she
said In low, strangely suppressed
tone.
And the foggy wind blew the spray
of the waves about these two as they
stood together on the rocky shore.
Suddenly she turned to him and grasp
ed his hand In hers, small, cold, and
damp with the breath Of the sea.
do you remember" she said. at
was here. years ago. when we were.
oh so young, you--you once said you
loved met"
"Yes," he answered with quiet ten
derness, II remember"
She pressed closer to him. and turn
ed her face up to his.
"Tell me-" she said quickly, "tell
me! Do you still? want you to
oh! how want you tot"
dearest, dearest Of all, you know
/ do"
"Then. kiss me-" she whispered.
He bent his head to hers. and their
souls seemed to meet, trembling. upon
their lips.
The waves beat their rhythmic
thunder upon the rugged shore. spray
ing high over the rocks, as though at
tempting to liberate themselves from
the eternal bondage Of the sea. and
dash into the mists. free as the mir,
that swirled about the two indlstinct
figures