The Washington times., 1920-08-21
tCos ti.ued from Yesterday

there in a brown study-a glitter
ing. exquisite figure In the subdued
light which fell in tiny points OF
fire on gem and ring. bracelet and
girdle, and tipped the giided san
dals on her little naked feet with
sparks OF living flame.
INTENSELY INTERESTED.
Then she turned her charming
young head and looked across at
him where he stood on the thresh-
old.
what do you thinkT she said,
"Ought you to go?"
81 ought to. But don't think
shall" -,
mo, don't CO." she said with a
not to remain brother and sister
any longer, there's a most fascinat-
Ing novelty in your being here"
He came in and closed the door.
She made room for him on the sofa
and he flung his coat across her
cloak and seated himself.
.'Now," she said, dropping one
silken knee over the other and
clasping her hands around IT,
how much can we care for each
other without being silly? You
know i have a dreadful intuition
that. I'd better not kiss you any
more. Not that l don't adore you
as much as / always did
She turned squarely around and
looked at him out OF her lovely
eyes:
You took me by surprise.
didn't understand. Then, sudden
ly l lost my senses and became
panicky. l was scared stiff Jim
you kissed me so many times"
He Redeemed and looked down.
Under his eyes her bare foot hung
In its golden sandal-an exquisite,
snowy little foot, quite perfectly
fashioned to match her hands soft
symmetry.
IF you loved me-" he said. "you
would not care how many times
kissed YOU"
But you kept on-and you kissed
my eyes and throat"
You wouldn't care what 1 did.
II you loved me-"
But they were unusual places to
be kissed. ! was scared. Did YOU
think me ridiculous? 1t was rather
startling, you know. 1t was such
a complete novelty"
She admitted it so naively that
ne laughed in spite of his chagrin.
steve he said, II don't know
~hat to do about 1T. I'm falling
more deeply in love with you every
moment; and you are merely kind
and sweet and friendly about it.
I'm intensely Interested" she
said.
Interested he repeated; yes,
that describes it,"
"A girl couldn't help being inter-
ested when a man she had always
adored as brother suddenly takes
her into his arms and kisses her in
unusual places" she said, land does
1t great number of times"
probably you kept count" he
said with boyish sarcasm.
She laughed outright
II wish I had. 1t was a perfect
Iy shameless performance. If you
ever do 1t again, shall keen
ccunt--out loud"
rs that all you'll do?"
What else is there to do?" sh.
inquired, smiling trife uneasily.
to respond"
How can my heart hold any
more of you than it does and al
ways has?" she asked with pref
ty impatience.
CANT you love me-"
II don't know how to any more
than L do"
But you did not find it agree
able when I kissed you
1-don't know what l felt sss
We always kissed" She began to
laugh. II enjoyed THAT: but /
don't think you did. always. You
sometimes looked rather bored,
Jim"
I'm getting well paid back" he
said. ,,
REMEMBERS FORMER DAYS.
This seemed to afford her infinite
delight: there was malice in her
gray eyes now, and a hint of pret-
ty mockery in her laughter.
"To think" she said. that James
Cleland should ever become senti-
mental with poor little Stephanie
Quest! What an unbending! What
condescension! What a come-down!
oh, Jim, If I've really got you at
last, I'm going to raise the very
devil with you"
You're doing it,"
Am I? I hope ! am, I mean to
torment you. Why, when think of
the long. long years of childish
alteration and awe-of the days
when j tagged after you, grateful
to be noticed. thankful when you
found time for me-" She clap
ped her hands together delightedly.
enchanted with his glum and red
dening face. For what she said
was the truth he knew 1t, though
she did, not realize how true II had
been--and, meant merely to exag-
gerate.
Also" she said. "you leave me
quite alone for three whole years
when you could have come back at
the end of two!'
His face darkened and he bit his
lip. ,.
You're quite right" he said in
quiet voice. "A girl couldn't very
well fall in love with that sort of
man."
There was a silence. She had
been enjoying her revenge, but she
had not expected him to take 1t so
seriously.
NO INTENTION TO HURT HIM.
He sat there with lowered head.
cohsioering. gnawing at his under
lip in silence. She had not intend
ed to hurt him. She was inexperi-
enced enough with him to be wor-
riod. His features seemed older,
leaner. full of unfamiliar shadows
disturbingly aloof and stern.
She hesitated--the swift, confused