Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1920-11-20

, YEARLY.
a." he stammered-"I am already
married"
She gave little, stitled cry
whether of pain or horror or Of indig-
nation he could not tell.
I'm Sorry-I-' he began.
Don't You think you might have
thought Of this beforc?"
II YOU don't understand"
80 1t would seem" she put In
cruelty.
Please hear me. 1t was several
years ago ! married a girl I'd never
seen before. to help her out Of Il dcs-
perate scrape she'd got into. We
never lived together, never even saw
one another after that hour. She
had every reason to think me dead
rs | should have been, by rights. But
now she knows that I'm alive--is about
to sue for a divorce"
After long pause, during which
neither stirred, she told him, in faint
voice: Thank YOU"
She moved toward the house.
IF YOU will forgive me"
"Oh. | forgive you, Mr.. Whitaker.
My heart is really not quite so fragile
as all this implies. | think I'll go
to bed. I'm very, very tired, in spite
Of my sleep on the sands. That didn't
rest me, really"
They returned to the kitchen.
In silence, while Whitaker fdgeted
about the room, awkward and un-
happy. the girl removed a glass lamp
from the shelf above the sink, as
sured herself that II was filled, and
lighted it, Then over her shoulder:
Il hope you don't mean to stay up
all night"
T--well, I'm really not sleepy
"As soon as you feel the least need
OF sleep, you'll go to bed:'
II promise
Every well, then"
The insistent note faded from her
tones. She moved toward the table.
put the lamp down, and hestated in
one Of her strange, unpresaged moods
OF dltfidence, looking down at the
tinger-tips with which she traced
meaningless pattern on the oil-cloth.
You are kind" she said abruptly,
her head bowed, her face hidden from
him.
Kind" he echoed. dumfounded.
You are kind and sweet and gen.
-,
voice "YOu have shown me your
heart-the heart of a gentlemnn--with-
out reserve; but of me you have
asked nothing"
II don't understand"
81 mean, you haven't once referred
TO what happened last night. You've
been content to let me preserve my
confidence. to remain secretive and
mysterious IN your sight. That
is how | seem to you--isn't it,"
"Secretive and mysterious? But
have no right to your confidence your
affairs are yours, inviolnble, unless
you choose to discuss them"
"You would think that way-of
course" Suddenly she showed him
her face Illuminated with its frank,
shadowy smile her sweet eyes, kind
and as fearless as the eyes of child.
"Other men would not, / know. And
you have every right to know"
"I-.!"
you; and | shall tell you. d
But not now; there's too much to tell,
to explain and make understandable {;
and I'm too terribly tired Tomorrow.
perhaps--Or when we escape from this
weird place when I've had time to
think things out"
AT your pleasure" he assented
gently. "Only-don't let anything
worry Won"
Impulsiyely she caught both his |
hands in clasp at once soft and |
strong, wholly ghtforward and !
friendly.
do YOU know" she said in a laugh |
ing voice, her head thrown back soft |
shadows darkening her mystical eyes. |
the lamplght caressing her hair until !
il was as If her head were framed In |
a halo of pure gold, bright against the
somber background of that mean, bare !,
room DO you know, dear man, that
you are quite blind?'
II think" he said with his twisted
smile, "it would be we'll for me IL l
were physically blind AT this instant.
She shook her hend in light reproot.
Blind. quite blind" she repeated.
"And yet--Im glad it's so with you.
wouldn't have you otherwise for
worlds"
She withdrew her hand. took up the
lamp, moved a little away from him.
and paused holding his eyes.
For Love, too, is blind she SAID
softly. with II quaint little nod of af-
Good night"
He started forward, eyes atlame;
ook single pace after her; paused
as II against an unseen barrier. His
lands dropped by his sides his chin
10 his chest; the light died ont of his
'nce and left 1t and deeply lined.
(TO be continued.)