Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-09-08


disconcerting peal of laughter.
But 1t wasn't funny for Peter, who
was now made aware that she had
turned his mind inside out upon the
table between them, so to speak. that
she might throw dust In the wheels.
And so he only gasped and stared at
her-startlingly convinced that in mat
ters of sentiment the cleverest man Is
no match for even the dullest woman
and Beth could hardly be considered IN
this category. At the challenge Of his
half expressed thought the occurrences
and sobriety Of the lesson hour had
fallen from her like doffed cloak.
| Peter protested blandly.
You don't understand what
But she broke in swiftly. Maybe you
were afraid ! might be falliu' in love
with you," she twitted him, and burst
into laughter again.
Il had no such expectation" said
Peter, stiffening, sure that his dignity
was a poor thing.
,".Or maybe" she went on joy
fully, maybe you were afraid you
might be fallin' in love with me-" And
then as she rose and gathered UP her
music, tantalizingly, "What did you
mean, Mr.. Nichols?'
He saw that he was losing ground
with every word she uttered, but his
sense Of humor conquered.
"You little pixie" he cried, dashing
for her, with a laugh. where Eave you
hidden this streak of impudence all
these weeks2''
But she eluded him nimbly, running
around the table and out of the door
before he could catch up with her.
He halted at the doorsil and called
to her. She emerged cautiously from
behind bush and made face at him.
Beth Come lack !" he entrcatcd.
I've got something to say to YOU"
'What?" she asked, temporizing.
II want to talk to you--seriously.
Good Lord-seriously You're not
goin' to--to take the risk of-of havin'
me yss yyamp 1 YOU ri.H are thyyt yGp%?h 9 b. .rinn.d
But she only broke off q leaf and
nibbled at it contemplatively. Maybe
l won t risk 1t. L don't want to spoil
a single hour she repeated, mock
ing his dignity, by any thought of
yours or mine that would lead us away
from the music Maybe I'm in dan
GER And then, You know you re
not so bad lookin yourself, Mr.. Mich
ols!
stop teasing, Beth"
Il won't"
"I'll make you" He moved n step
toward her.
Maybe I hadn't better come any
more" she said quizzically.
Beth !"
Suppose | was learnin' to love you
a little,' she went on ironically, with
you scared l might be--and not KNOWN
how to get out Of it. Wouldn't that
be terrible For me, I mean. She
loved and lost, in seven reels.r'
She was, treading on precarious
ground, and she must have seen her
danger In Peters face, for, as he came
toward her she turned and ran down
the path, laughing at him. Peter fol-
lowed in full stride, but she ran like
a deer. and by the time he had reached
the creek she was already halfway
over the log jam below the pool. Her
laugh still derided him and now, eager
to punish her, he leaped after her.
But so intent he was on keeping her
In sight upon the farther bank that
his foot slipped on tree trunk and he
went into the water. A gay peal of
laughter echoed in his ears. And he
caught last glimpse Of her light frock
as it vanished into the underbrush. But
he scrambled up the bank after her
and darted along the path-lost her in
the dusk, and then deep in the woods
at one side saw her fitting from tree
to tree away from him. But Peter s
blood was now warm with the chase
and it was the blood of Peter Nicholae-
witch. too. Forgotten were the studious
hours Of patience and toll. Here was
a girl who challenged his asceticism-a
beautiful young female animal who
dared to mock at his self restraint.
She thought that she could get away.
But he gained on her. She had stop =
ped laughing at him now.
Beth You little devil!' he cried
breathlessly, as he caught her. "You
little devil. I'll teach you to laugh
at me-
LET LET me 60"
He held her in his arms while she
struggled vainly to release herself. Her
flushed face was now little frightened
and her large blue eyes stared in dis
may at what she saw in his face.
Let me CO." she whispered. IL
5 But he only held her closer while she
. struggled, as he kissed heron the
! brows, the chin, the cheeks. and as she
relaxed in sheer weakness-full on the
, ips-again-again.
to keep my hands off you all these
weeks?" he whispered "Do you think
| haven't wanted you-tO tcnch you
what women were meant for? It's for
this. Beth-and this.
"Do yoI think / haven't seen how
, lovely you are? Do YOU think I'm a
saint-an anchoritef Well. I'm not. I'll
. make you love mc--love mo"
Something in the reckless tones of
| his voice--in his very words--arousetl
l her to new struggles. 'Oh, let me 10. -
. she gasped. Il don't love you. won't.
!. Let me CO.
''Nou shall ~
! mo Let me loose or I'LL despise
, you--"
G Beth !"
J II mean 1t. Let me CO.
If moment ago when she was re .
laxed in his arms he had thought that
he had won her. he had no such notion
now, for with a final effort OF her
strong young arms. she thrust away
1 from him and stood painting and dis
G ordered, staring at him as though at
, one she had never seen before.
9 'Oh-how l hate you! ~
Beth !"
4, II mean it. You-you--" she
turned away from him, staring at the
Dol Of her establishment. Peter saw
her look, felt the meaning Of 1t, tried
d to recall the words he had said to her
0 and failed-but sure that they were q
@ true reflection of what had been In
| his heart. He had wanted her-then-
e nothing else had mattered-not duty OF
+ his set resolve
: "You Knocked at me. Beth" he nut
tered II couldn't stand that"
A And IS this the way you punish
> me? All, If you'd only-if you'd only
/ And then with another glance at the
tnp ,1,a In ha