The Elk Mountain pilot., 1921-02-17

She stopped crying and looked up
into the honest face 30 close to her
own. puzzllng 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 a
long quivering sigh.
"H 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
SO ugly"
'I don't get you" remarked Robert
Hervey.
"A man told me just a little while
ago that he was making a catalogue
of reasons why women give them
selves" she continued. HE 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"
"Really7" said Mr.. Randolph, stiff
fening perceptibly.
"The lowest reason Of all was for
cold cash." she went on, as though he
had not spoken. "Then came the gilt
fer of precious stones, and, after that
silk underwear"
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.
shuddering at the pity of it: well
pass on to the next. If you don't mind"
Curiosity comes next" resumed the
girl obediently. "a woman is weak
until she knows everything. Then
comes funny one that you won't un-
derstand at all. It's called 'Because.'
Because he had on 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-
stabs its own heart; the lonely soul;
consuming fire, and, last and greatest
reason of all, just love-" Her eyes
giowed 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 a
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 thinking9 That was
asking you toto give yourself to
meY'
Her eyes came suddenly to his face.
YES" she said; II thought that"
He stared at her for a 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
meY' she whispered then, as he did
not speak: kiss me. 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
dead weight Of uninspired flesh.
at Is true" she murmured. des-
perately. "You don't really want me
and 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
| talk?' 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 name?" She was trans
formed; her eyes flashed with such
light as made the blaze in his own
paltry thing. "Do you think she would
lie in your arms?'' She asked, gulping
out the words. "vivienne vivlerre"-
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