News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1921-02-02

you mann NldUe me lnlllk
If anything. has been sn'd in the
course Of these pages TO give he i'm
preston that Mr.. Randolph was mod
eled after Joseph or hewn out of ice
or packed with problty to the eXclu-
sion of red blood, forget 1t. AT the
sight Of those tears. he slid the length
of the couch to first base, felded the
girl. In his arms, switched her round
so that she lay across his knees, drew
her face against his shoulder, and
rocked her gently.
"You poor lIiddie," he said softly,
"what a devil of n time you've had |!
But believe me when tell you it's all
over. This is the night that starts your
old happy sun into the blue sky again.
Don't worry"
She stopped crying and looked up
into the honest face so close to her
own, puzzlng as to how just those
words could have come from it but
the world had taught her a hard les
son in varying standards. She drew
long quivering sigh.
"If you could only wait until | love
YOU. body and soul" she breathed.
"What on earth do you mean?"
asked Mr., Randolph.
"Why then it wouldn't be so bad
80 ugly"
81 don't get you" remarked Robert
Hevey.
"A man told me just a little while
ago that he was making a catalogue
of reasons why women give them
selves" she continued. Gle had eleven
already. and yet he was one of the
incest men I've met. He talked to me
as though he were showing me way
that / must travel alone"
''Really?" said Mr.. Randolph, stiff
fleming perceptibly.
"The lowest reason of all was for
cold cash. she went on, as though he
had not spoken. "Then came the gilt
ter of precious stones, and after that,
silk underwear"
"Silk underwear" exclaimed Mr..
Randolph, mystified and interested in
SplLe Vi 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,
shuddering at the pity of it: "wesl
pass. on to the next, if you don't mind"
Curiosity comes next" resumed the
girl obedently. "a woman is weak
until she knows everything. Then
comes funny one that you won't I'M
derstand at all. It's called Because
Because he had on a coat that re-
minded her Of an old coat that a man
she had loved used to wear"
"My dear girl" protested Mr.. Ran
dolph.
II said they weren't interesting"
she reminded him dispassionately. Her
eyes widened. "And now" she con-
tinued, 1--WE go up and up-spite that
stabs its own heart; the lonely soul;
consuming fire. and. last and greatest
reason of all, just love-" Her eyes
glowed 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
love, then let me give myself to
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 to him as though he snatched her
back from just beyond his clasp,
'where is your mind wandering? What
have you been thinking? That I was
asking you toto give yourself to
me?"
Her eyes came suddenly to his face.
"Yes," she said; 81 thought that"
He stared at her for long silent mo- |
nent, his lips wavering nervously be-
tween pity and severity. A flush
swept over her face, and into her eyes
,rept look of fear. 'You don't want
ne?" she whispered; then, as he did
1Ot speak: kiss me. l wish you to
Kiss me-"
There was something in her insist |
9nce that clutched at his heart and |
)ent 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 |
vent limp in his arms, turned to a
lead weight of uninspired flesh.
at is true" she murmured, des-
,erately. "You don't really want me
nd l can never love you now"
Randolph awoke to that still cry.
lie shook her, seized her head in both |
lis hands, and forced her eyes to meet
he blaze in his.
'You generous, careless, adorable
title fool ~ he growled "Why, you're
he most desirable and precious bundle
# lovable charm that robber man
yer trembled to hold in sacrilegious
rms ~
She stared at him amazed.
"Why don't you kiss the way you