The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1919-09-25

chin. / did what I'd been aching to DC
since I frsA met Ter, but had slipped
on my courage. She was looking do"n
in & shy, little way she has-and !
Kissed her. When she lifted her eyes
there was such a surprised little look
in them, felt just rs IL ! had huft a
baby.
L didn't mean TO do it, j said, 'out
I couldn't help it. VIII you forgive me!
" m forgive you she said in a low
voice after q moment, but you muSn I
again
she meant it, so I didn't, but she
let me hold her hand we sat qulet anu
watched the moon shine on the water
Il asked her II she'd had a good time
and she told me 1t had been the most
wonderful day Of her ife-ditterent
from all others.
'Honest?' ! asked. .
She didn't answer, but looked OH
aver the water. and l saw q tear on
her cheek.
Z" Honest2' ! said again.
Yes she said. Honest, and never
knew before what it was to be honest.
II didn't know what she meant, but
we had got to Chicago now. 1T wasn't
very late and | asked her should we
go to Reilly's again and she said II
would spoil the day. | thought so. TOO
On the way TO where I'd iett
her the night before, there was a little
park. We went in sat on of the
benches. 1t was only a little ciunp OF
trees, but il made b nice place to visit,
because there was no one around. Peo-
pie in cities don't act like they were
seasoned to outdoors except when it's
hot weather.
II was booked to leave the naxt
morning, 80 I couldn't let n grass
grow. I asked her to marry me.
I wish you hadn't asked me- she
said, and her voice sounded like there
were tears in her eyes.
" Why? ! asked.
:" 7 wish she went on without taxi
ing any notice of me just like she
was talking to herself-'that dared to
love "a nan like you
THAT was all I cared to know For
the ghost of n second 1 held her in my
arms, but she slipped out of them and
] saw her face was pale.
You do love mel | said.
I do she repeated after me. "A lot.
II it was a little bit. I'd marry you, but
i love you so much, I'll tell you why
call IlEyGI UlaTEy yOu. VI iG ~ AliSt
mar that ever treated me like / was
white. im pretty bad. / know, but !
am not SO bad as to do you wrong
II told her / didn't know what she
meant. but there was nothing in the
world that should come between US.
" I tried to tell you tonight on the
boat, when you asked me to tell you
how much ] had enjoyed the day. she
xs,an4-ap j,te,T ~ fhnrryl 7 hadn't spnE.s
en-, when you said Honest" But I
couldn't. was afraid to tell you !
couldn't do anything honest.
Then she told me she was q thief.
She didn't try to make any excuses for
herself, but when I heard her little
hard luck story and knew what she'd
been up against. / didn't wonder that
she stole or committed any crime. She
had had a regular Cinderella step
mother who had licked her when she
was q kid because she took food from
the pantry when h was hungry. The
old lrag called 1t stealing and warned
the school teacher and the other kids
got hold of 1t and of course you know
what it does to any one to get a black
eye. She had the name of a thief
wished on her until she got to be one.
She was expelled from school; put In
q reformatory; ran away; stole to keep
herself alive. Then they all o a
hand at he~r--mtnistcr's, society girls.
cnariIaDie ussoCisIiiuns; tfley gave iler
q bum steer and made her feel that she
was a hopeless outcast, SO h felt
more at nome with her vagrant class.
The only person who had ever made
her feel she wanted to be straight was
4 Salvation Army woman, but she had
gone away and no one was left to care
now.
II didn't let her go N further. !
told her ! cared and I cared all the
more since I had heard her story; and
that she vas honest, or she wouldn't
have told me about herself. What did
I care what she had been or done? Her
life vas going to begin right then with
me. ] couldn't bulge herr talked
and pleaded. and at last she gave in
q little. She said she'd think it over
and meet me at the little park in the
morning, and then she'd talk some
more about 1t.
$50 we parted until morning came.
But 1 made up my mind that 1t she
wouldn't consent I'd simply kidnap her
and bring her up her to Mrs. Kingdom.
Il was on hand bright and early at
tho park next morning, and after q
while a slovenly slip Of a girl came
up to me and asked my name. I told
her. She a v me a note and then
started off like q skyrocket, but I'm
aome spry myself, and 1 caught her
and held her till I'd read the note. 1t
was from her and she said h couldn't
give mo the worst of the bargain That
she was going to try hard to see II
she could max good and live without
stealing, and when she was sure she'd
send word to me through Mr.. Reilly.
end, II ! never heaid.I could know she
had failed, and for me to forget her.
Where is she?n 1 asked the girl,
who WA sQuirming like an eel.
dunno she said. She's left
town..
don't believe III I said.
Yes, she has said the girl. She
pawned all her togs-that new white
dress and the swell shoes and her new
suit and hat to get money to make a
getaway.
IA 70 q fish as to hold that slippery
little street Arab. She broke away and
ran. I was after her, but 1t was nc
M xsaa ~ 1,N /. o.x,b tI~r - - -. - ~.