Omaha daily bee., 1919-03-06
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He stopped point blank, not be-
lieving his ears.
Il can't can'tw she cried, re-
coiling as though she were clearing
her dirty skirts from the filth of a
threatening scoundrel. Il never
thought Of such a thingp
In the darkness she felt that he
was staring at her, so still that she
could not even hear the taking of his
breath. Alarmed at this ominous
silence, she laid her hand on his arm
But, Andrew, why? What made
you believe that? ! never thought OF
such a thing-I never said a word.
Still he made no answer.
"He is suffering" she thought, and
her emotions inclined her to pity.
She would have the tooth out and
the consolation afterward. If we
were free, both free, today OF
course I'd marry you--you know
that. But that's not the pointl"
What is the point2" he said
brusquely. -
why, other things. We are not
living in a prairie. There are my
friends-my position in society
what people would say"
Does that mean anything to
you"
Eyes, Of course-everything."
He put his head down into his
hands and began to laugh-a laugh
that made her shudder at the nudity
of her soul which she had exposed to
him.
Listen, Andrew" she said, plead
ing against this silent arraignment.
Don't think don't care. | never
meant to do you harm. I'm weak,
perhaps-but that's what lam. | am
what my surroundings have made
me; can't be different"
And ! am a parvenu," he said
mercilessly. ..e..
mo. no" she protested. "You are
much finer than / am, than we all
are. And then-and then" she said
incoherently, there are the chill
dren-"
"Of course, the children," he said
dryly.
"Oh, Andrew, don't be angry With
me I can't help it if I am as I am
If you despise me | don't know how
| shall go on. You don't know-you
don't know what it is. You can't
understand. You force me to say
what is terrible-what hoped you'd
spare me-"
And what is that!" he said, in the
tone of a prosecuting attorney.
She hesitated a long moment, and
then she laid her hand over his.
Waltz she said in a tragic whis-
per. "It'll only be short time now"
He looked at her and saw her as
she was. She felt again the barring
of her soul before him, and she
struggled to hide behind the cloak of
plausibility.
cts terrible, what I've said; but
that I've been willing to say il
should convince you"
"Of WHAT"
"That I care" she said in a low
voice. All ! ask is to be protected.
Do this as a man of the world would
do it. Andrew, and all will come out
in the end"
81 see"
She breathed a sigh of relief, as
surfing herself that she had con-
WINGED him.
"You are such a child in worldly
matters, Andrew" she said softly.
"A man can stand up against SLAM
der. But think what it would mean to
me just at present to have my name
dragged through the mud"
And, of course-the children" he
added.
She drew back, started to speak,
and stopped.
AT this moment, outside on the
gravel path they heard a crunching
sound.
"Say something-talk to me-" she
whispered.
Despite which," he said, raising
his voice, 4 am certain that England
cannot stand quietly by and"
Hello, is that you, Rudy?" said
Irma, breaking in. "I'm here with
Andrew,
The steps came to them, and in the
blurred light short figure doomed