Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1920-12-10

1alDI.
"ohl helloi It's you :"
The man paused. aat in hand. his
attitude one of pleading and reproach
yet Informed with an ineffaeeable
dignity.
"You saw me. Leenora. Why did
you, ruD--from meT'
She tossed her head. "What makes
you think did,"
II do not think; know. You turned
ub this street to avoid me. Leonora,
why?"
IF you thought that--that want
ed to be left alone hy'd you follow
me?"
The man lifted his hands palms up
permost, and let them fall.
You kHow :. love you. ! make
no secret of that. | have told you
how many rimes?--a hundred? Yes
Ibis enunciation grew more rapid
''and you are not indifferent to me
You never said so. but know"
'0h, | like you all right"
"No; more than that; TOO much to
wish to hurt me. Is It not SOP
why. don't want TO hurt you, OF
course. Butt you've got to know
was in hurry. I've got a date-and
I'm late"
Ard ! am OBTAINING youl Forgive
me-but let me so 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 at her side. "I'd just
MS leave you didn't come all the way,
though"
You do not wish me to know where
you 60" He nodded sober contirma-
ton Of an unuttered guess. Il see
You see terrible lott" The girl
had spasm OF irritation. you're al.
ways seeing things. Well. what do
you see nowI"
"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
"fsartofnl, ,,a,, ex,,,a ,,,n - .tt,A -
make it foine. That canrot affect the
truth that such associations are I'M
wise"
Maybe I'm hest 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"
I With a courtesy the more gratifying
/ because 1t was SO novel, Mario put his
hand under her arm, lightly plotting
her through the human mazes OF the
brawllng Street, which they crossed
squarely and quickly left behind.
After 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. l
| 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 tate
must be as theirs"
II guess what's good enough for INV
| friends Is good enough for me-"
mo, Leonora; you are too good for
that--or | could not love you"
The 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 we'll beside them
and not a SOIL 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.
II am not a common man" Mario
was stating simple fact, innocent OF
| conceit. II know the world outside the
one you know, and the men and wom-
en- who live In 1t. Where / go, lock
about me, and reflect on what / 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. a
wicked and cruel thing, when you
trample down that which is good in
you and might bring you to splendid
destiny"
Impressed In spite Of herself,
touched. ED battered. too, she looked
uneasi'y away, twisting her hands to-
gether, her tongue faItering.
i suppose you know what you mean