Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1920-11-04

1dlllJ.
"Oh! hello! It's you :"
The man paused hat in hand, his
attitude one of pleading and reproach,
yet informed with an ineffaceable
dignity.
you saw me, Leonora. Why did
you run-from me-"
She tossed her head. "What makes
you think 1 did,"
II do not think; l know. You turned
up this street to avoid me. Leonora,
why?"
IF you thought that-that l want
ed to be left alone-why'd you follow
meY
The man lifted his hands palms up
permOst and let them fall.
you know love you. l make
no secret of that. have told you
how many times?-a hundred? Yes"
his enunciation grew more rapid
land you are not Indifferent to me.
You never said so, but know"
"Oh, like you all right"
mo; more than that; too much to
wish to hurt me. Is it not SOP"
"Why, | don't want to hurt you, of
course. Buff you've got to know
was in hurry. I've got a date-and
I'm late"
"And l am OBTAINING you! Forgive
me-but let me go with you little
way"
The girl shot hunted glances right
and left then, since nothing in sight
promised diversion, said ungraciously :
"NObody can stop your walking with
me-"
Nobody but you, Leonora. One
word"
"One word from me and you'll do
exactly as you please" With a nerv-
Gus laugh-"Oh, come along r-she
turned back, walking hastily, the man
Mario falling in ut her side. I'D just
as leave you didn't come all the way,
though"
you do not wish me to know where
you 60" He nodded sober cOnfrma-
ton of an unuttered guess. 81 see
. E"
you see a terrible lotw The girl
had Il spasm of irritation. you're al
ways seeing things. Well, what do
you see now?"
you go to meet those Others"-his
tone was sad-"thOSe whom | have so
often begged YOU"
Guess it's my business who my
friends are"
"Certainly you give me no right to
make it mine. That cannot affect the
truth that such associations are I'M
wise"
Maybe Pm best judge Of that, too"
"Leonora; why pretend to me? De-
ceive yourself if you must and Can
but not me, not one who loves you as
| do. Do not attempt it, even. 1t is
so useless"
With a courtesy the more gratifying
because it was so novel, Mario put his
hand under her arm, lightly plotting
her through the human maZes of the
brawling Street, which they crossed
squarely and quickly left behind.
After a little while being in the
wrong, she said sulkily: Il don't see
why you're always making out I'm try
ing to put something over on you. |
never promised :"
True. But you know what these
friends of yours are, and their ways
whittier they lead, their inevitable end
You know, if you persist, your fate
must be as theirs"
Il guess what's good enough for my
friends is good enough for me"
NO, LeOnora; you are too good for
that-or l could not love you"
Tie man paused, and his hold on her
arm drew the girl to an unwilling
pause with him, midway down dark
dead block of industrial buildings
with a windOwleSs wall beside them
and not a soul nearby to hear. The
| girl was distressed, more than a little
humbled in her own esteem by this
revelation of an affection more endur.
ing and generous and frank than any
she had ever known.
Il am not common man" Mario
was stating simple fact innocent OF
conceit. II know the world outside the
one you know, and the men and WON.
en- who live in it. Where l 90, | look
about me, and reflect on what I see.
am seldom mistaken in those who in,
terest me. And you whom | love
| tell you, you are no more of this life
than |, and you do wrong thing, q
wicked and cruel thing, when you
trample down that which is good In
you and might bring you to a splendid
destiny"
Impressed in spite of herself
touched, and flattered, too, she looked
uneasily away, twisting her hands to-
gether, her tongue faltering.
81 suppose you know what you mean