The Oklahoma miner. [volume] (Krebs, Okla.) 1912-192?, 1920-08-05

peCted Otis. He bad thought Otis n |
man who disduined society MS fri |
vOlity only for women to umuse them |
selves with. He was soon to learn, |
however. that II is often those who |
jeer the loudest at smart society who !
secretly revere 1t most. Iiypocritically |
snob, the hinty old capitalist was as !
well versed in all those little tricks |
and artifices and petty subterfrEes OF
socially disparaging a person as the
most sophisticated dowager.
Fitzhugh's perpleXity became a tor
ment. One evening ct was at a
charity balD he reminded Kathleen of
the la Boheme" evening one year
before.
81 shouldn't bring It up" he ended,
"only this is our anniversary and an
niversaries are always the time for
recalling things"
She lowered her eyes TO the cluster
of violcts on her corsage. They were
. his violets. He had long ago learned
/ her passion for the flower and seldom
the day passed but he showered her
with them.
you do care a little? Don't you
Kathleen?"
"I-you know I like you.'
He said tensoly: II don't want you
to like me-"
I'm sorry"
81 want you to love me. You know
love you. Can't you-dont you love
me. Kuthleen?'
The violin sobbed with fits delicious
melody. She began toying with the
violets. Her fingers were unsteady.
The violets fell to the floor.
Don't you?' he insisted, rs he re
covered and returned them.
Don't | whatY-pinning the flow
ers to her corsage.
Love me-"
Having finally arranged the bou-
Quet and stilled her trembling fingers,
she permitted her arms to rest beside
her on the chair. Instantly she felt
his hand close upon hers The sob
bing of the violin Increased. 1t was
some wild thing of Mozarts.
"KathIeenl Kathleenw
She was overpoweringly consciou,
of his ncarness. The flesh Of his hand
seemed to burn into hers. Every
nerve in her ody throbbed to it's pres
sure. All the restraint of years of
breeding and tradition, which thus
: far had held her back, were now snap
ping asunder; and she felt herself be-
ing swept on toward that which she
, feared yet longed to attain. She
could no longer resist. She gave her
. self utterly to the half-frightened de-
liciousness of surrender.
= "Ah l love you.
q do love you
They were snugly ensconced behind
r the shielding palm. The violinist was
in a poetic frenzy. The attention OF
- all was held by him. Nobody saw
, them. The shadows of the March
afternoon were thickening, and the
5 room was in semi-darkness.
r After a while he spoke, very softly
$50 we are engaged" he said, anC
in spite of him his voice trembled.
= yes" she murmured, unclosing he
1 eyes. Still leaning against him, sh'
t asked wistfully: And are you very
very happy?"
He held her close.
Il never dreamed" said he, "tha
any man could be so divinely happy
least of all myself"
Presently she sat up, with a start
b and removed his encircling arm.
,. You must remember" she sal
r hastily, "it is only between ourselves
5 We mustn't announce 1t yet"
= He detected a strange note in ne
;, voice.
$ 81 understand" he answered quietly
d you see, if promise to MARI
o YOU
r Of you promise"
y 81 mean when we announce our er
v gRgement. ! shall have to oppose ia
/ ther and mother. I've never breathe
e word to them, you know. When
found you had said nothing to mothe
It that night II thought it best, a
z round, to wait little while. So Iv
It never spoken. But now l sha
e have to fight for you. I shall have
T. defend you. You must help me all yo
:. can, and always remember if l seeI
IS severe or exacting it is because l car
e FOR you So"
e "Once," he mused, looking Gown {
her with the unutterable joy of posse
e sion, "you spoke rather strongly {
# my egOtism. l think, sometimes,
to have a right to be egOtistical,"