Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-08-26
EVENING EDITION.

ducements. Only these things hays
to be got At praeticaliy and frankly
nowadays. It's perfectly obvious, at
any rate. I admire YOU as much as
any woman Tvs ever known. You're
splendid In every way. And you have
what has got TO be considered by
many Of Y landholders when y comes
to put IT? You seem a ciear-sighted,
modern woman. You've given me to
understand
What" she asked him very gent
~, have I given you to UNDERESTIMATE
II don't fancy for a moment, you:
know, that you're In love with me.
But we've got more than most peo-
pie have to begin on--a mutual friend
ship and respect"
even at that, Lord fremont you
take a very,.very great deal for
granted" she told him; IAN amazing
deal"
He stiffsned.
tim paying you the compliment OF
perfect frankness,' 'sssaid he. ct take
it for granted that you're a woman
Of the world"
Then.sto his horror, Claire began
to laugh. She bent her face to both
hands. It was not happy laughter
AASSs - +OAu 46aALS 4AASAS0At Ildo11AL6r IA
cymbals. but it was the laughter OF
humor, pureiand human. q touch ct
ridicule, a grain Of bitterness, of
mockery, a triumphant, kindly under
standing, tears in 1t somewhere; but
over and above all it was laughter,
real laughter .ffEom the heart: the kind
OF mirth unknown to animals, ul-
known to children, unknown to ignor-
ant, early youth a treasure wrung
TrnY1 nYvapp{orNo aud main a nd a +haffoY
understandings. of oneself; the sort
Of laughter that pricks bubbles ana
throws down masks,< a glorious, pitt
full, tragic laughter, which. perhaps
angels do not see in heaven, bnr
which might make possible their ten
der dealings with humanity.
Alec stood stock-stil and listened
to it. The flush spread from under
his eyes, up and down, covering his
face from hair to collar.
"Alec!" she said presently. using
his name for the first time, and put
out her hand,
He stared at It, his own hands
clenched. ,.45a.
acn laugh when my father"
"Ah!" She turned and looked up at
him. "Ah! But, you see, I'm crying
too. I'm crying most. and my laugh
ter wasn't all for YOU. A great deal
Of it was for myself. I'll try to ex-
plain it to YOU
She had dried her eyes, and he saw
that she was shaking, which surprised
him, even in his wrath, which at this
moment was tremendous.
II am afraid" he said stiffly, that
I must not wait now to listen to your
explanation. Besides, it seems to me
unnecessary. Your amusement ex-
plains itself. Only I must ask you
to believe that my mistake was, under
the circumstances, perfectly natural
Il have come to believe SO myself"
she said simply. your whole atti-
tude Is probably the most natural,
thing in the world. I have been-
fool. Don't you suppose I realize It?
Give me credit for fair-mindedness.
And yet believe many ome in my
position would have treated you, in
sheer self-defense, to something much
worse than laughter"
Il am to tell my father, then"
y, At that she was beside him. her
hand gripping his arm.
"You shall tell him nothing!" h
cried. her blue eyes commanding him.
Nothing! I have made him a prom
Use myself, Listen! You have no time,
this morning. you say"
Here a. servant knocked. Claire
stpped back. and Alec. opening the
door, received a message as to the ur-
gency Of the business OF a certainSM Mr..
Unterberg. He turned with stiff po-
to Claire, who stood. by the
y window now, struggling, itseemed,
/ with tears.
Continued Tomorrow Evening.