Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1921-02-25
(Continued)

silk underwear exclaimed Mr..
Randolph, mystified and interested in
spite Of himself.
"Of course you couldn't understand
that" she said. mot unless you had
seen some poor girl bury her face In
crepe de chine and lace, tremble to try
them on, and then sob because she had
to wear clothes over them"
Look here" said Mr.. Randolph,
shuadeYins at the pity of it: well
pass on to the next, II you don't mind"
Curiosity comes next" resumed the
girl sbediently. "A woman is weak
until she knows everything. Then
comes a funny one that you won't un-
derstand at all. It's called Because.
Because he had on a coat that re-
minded her Of an old coat that man
she Had loved used to wear"
NY dear girl" protested Mr.. Ran
dolph.
II said they weren't interesting
she reminded him dispassionately. Her
eyes widened. "And now" she con-
tfnued, I'VE 20 up and up-spite that
stahs It's own heart; the lonely soul !;
consuming fire. and. last and greatest
reason Of all. just love-" Her eyes
Flowed to some distant focus. "If all
myself. my honor, my past, and my
future dissolve to the single drop OF a
present moment In the crystal cup of
tat ,rix- unUGaIf
lovers lips for, once drained, nothing
will be left upon which to hang the
badge Of shame-nothing remain in
all the world but the spirit and-and
the sacrifice"
"Girl," said Mr.. Randolph, crushing
her 70 him as though he snatched her
back from just beyond his clasp
where is your mind wandering? What
have you been thinking? That / was
asking you to-to give yourself to
mer'
Her eyes came suddenly to his face.
Eyes" she said; II thought that
He stared at her for long silent mo-
ment, his lips wavering nervously be-
tween pity and severity. A flush
swept over her face, and into her eyes
crept a look of fear. you don't want
meT' she whispered; then, as he did
not speak: kiss me. I wish you to
kiss me-"
There was something In her insist
ence that clutched at his heart and
bent him forward. He drew her head
up slowly to meet his lips and kissed
her as lightly. as impersonally as
brother ever saluted sister, but far
more fearfully. Immediately her body
went limp In his arms, turned to a
dead weight Of uninspired flesh.
ut is true" she murmured, des-
perately. "You don't really want me
and l can never love you now"
Randolph awoke to that still cry.
He shook her. seized her head In both
his hands, and forced her eyes to meet
the blaze In his.
"You generous, careless, adorable
little fool !" he growled. "Why, you're
the most desirable and precious bundle
Of lovable charm that robber man
ever trembled to hold in sacrilegious
arms"
She stared at him amazed.
-Why don't you kiss the way you
talkr' she demanded.
Because there's no reason for your
desperate barter, my dear Imogene
Pamela Thornton"
In one 1.-THE motion she was out of
his arms, on her feet, back TO the fire,
head upthrown.
"HOw dare you-how dare you call
me by that namer' She was trans.
formed; her eyes flashed with such a
light as made the blaze in his own a
paltry thing. "Do you think she would
lie in your arms?" She asked, gulping
out the words. "Vivienne Vivierre"-
her lips curled in distaste at the name
-"ah, yes; poor despairing thing But
Pamela Thornton! Oh, who are
your Why did your" She dropped
her face In her hands and sobbed as
though her heart had broken.
Randolph did not leap to comfort
her this time; he did not even watch
her. With his eyes on the edges OF
fire that peeped from between and
round her ankles. he began to talk.
II knew you; knew Sport; I knew
Maggie. Just once met you all. and
I've never forgotten. couldn't" He
smiled crookedly. "You and sat dowr
20 hard together and you cried out
MY, what bumpv and laughed ant
laughed-just like tonight. back Their,
at the stage-door Of the Crocodile"
Pamela stopped crying.
$50 you were that awfully mic,
boy" she said, disclosing tear-staineC
cheeks and looking him over as though
she were inventorying a long list o.
points Of deterioration.
Robert Hervey Randolph. six fee
tall. freckled-nosed, open-faced, blue
eyed and broad-shouldered. looked NJ
at her almost appealingly as II hi
whole sum and substance were cryin,
out to be appraised at face value bu
no less
That's me-" he said vapidly. IN!
name Is Robert Hervey Randolph
Some people call me Bob som,
'Herv.' and the sidey ones sa!
Randy"
And shall call you Mr.. Ran