The Bienville Democrat. [volume] (Arcadia, Bienville Parish, La.) 1912-1980, 1921-03-10
PART l--Contlnued.

-
The girl considered gravely for a
moment; then her face broke into a
ripping smile that swept up and set
tied in her eyes. She reached for a
cushion, put 1t Mt her back. tucked one
foot under herself, and waved the
other in the same fashion Us had Miss
Van Teller earlier in the evening.
"Now talk she said.
DO you like mel" asked Mr.. Ran
dolph.
She nodded her head.
you're not afraid to be here"
She shook denial.
"Have you ever been In a mans
room before?"
She looked him straight in the eyes
and made no other sign.
It was Mr.. Randolph's turn to flush.
"Then." he said, IF you like me and
II you're not afraid, please begin at
the start and tell me all about It,"
The girls eyes fell and sought the
Gre. Her face slowly paled to the
shade of her somber thoughts. She
was no longer pretty; she was beauti.
ful, with a revealing transparency that
made her seem unleshed, disem.
bodied spirit Of sincerity and truth,
indubitably pure.
II had a nurse once" she said, In a
low voice, "and a wire-haired terrier,
a show-dog and a darling. lHis name
was Sport She raised solemn yes
to Randolph's face as though measur-
Ing his powers Of understanding. my
nurse died and then. one day, had to
sell Sport; wasn't old enough to sell
myself"
She stopped speaking with an un.
inlstakable iinality. Randolph was
overwhelmed by the food Of informa-
ton that this slip Of q girl had packed
into two-scOre words. A life.story in
four lines and revelation Of the
heart thrown In for good measure
Over and above that, he had to reckon
With the confirmation Of a suspicion
which had been slowly establishing It.
self In his mind that he had met her
before, that not for the first time this
night had those soft lips. curved for
merry words, cried, MY, what q
bump!" within his hearing.
So many considerations pressed ia
his immediate attention that he
awoke to the actual present too late
to stem the tide Of tears that sudden.
" rose to the girls eyes.
"Oh," she sobbed, "what Is to be
come Of me? ] was so happy here, Il
you hadn't made me think"
II anything has been said N thu
course, Of these pages to give the i'm
preston that Mr.. Randolph was mod
eled after Joseph or hewn out Of ict
Or packed with probity to the exclu
sion Of red blood, forget 1t. At tn,
sight Of those tears, he slid the length
Of tho couch to first base, felded tn,
girl In his arms. switched her rount
10 that she lay across his knees, drew
her face against his shoulder, ant
rocked her gently.
"You poor kiddie," he said softly
'.'what devil Of q time you've had
But believe me when / tell you It's al
ever. This Is the night that starts you
Old happy sun into the blue sky again
Don't worry"
She stopped crying and looked N
Into the honest face so close to he
own, puzzlIng as to how just thos
words could have come from It; bu
The world had taught her hard LEI
son In varying standards. She drew
long quivering sigh.
II you could only wait until l low
you. body and SOUL" she breathed.
'What OH earth do you mean?
asked Mr.. Randolph.
why, then 1t wouldn't be 80 bad
70 ugly"
Il don't get yon," remarked Rober
Hervey.
"A man told me just little Will
ago that he was making q catalogu
Of reasons why women give then
selves" she continued. HE had eleye
already, and yet he was one Of N
INCEST men I've met. He talked TO m
IL though he were showing me a wa
that I must travel alone"
Really" said Mr.. Randolph, sti
fleming perceptibly.
'The lowest reason Of all was I,
cold cash." she went on, as though
had not spoken. "Then came the I'll
tef Of precious stones, and, after thu
eilk underwear"
aSilk underwear" exclaimed n
ndclph, mystified and interested
u Me Of himself.
0f course you couldn't understar
mt she said. mot unless you hi
s1sn scus poor girl bury her face
esepe de chine and lace, tTemble to d
an "a, ana then rob because ne hs
n g wsar clothes over them
~ Nm "a Ar. Randolp