Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1921-01-29
Illustrated by IRWIN MYERS
Copyright 1920 by the Author.

~ M ~ - - tNS 49,
were discouraging; but her heart wal
faint.
"Ohl hello! It's you
The man paused, hat in hand, DIS
attitude one of pleading and reproach'
yet informed with an ineffaeeaDle
dignity.
you saw me, Leonora. Why did
you run--from me"
She tossed her head. "What makes
you think did,"
81 do not think know. You turned
up this street to avoid Inc. Leonora'
wby?"
IF you thought that-that ! want
ed to be left alone-why'd you follow
meY
The man lifted his hands palms up
permost, and let them fall.
you know . love you. ! make
no secret of that. have told you
how many times?-a hundred? Yes
his enunciation grew more rapid
land you are not Indifferent to me-
You never said so, but . / know.
"Oh, | like you all right"
"No: more than that; too much to
wish to hurt me. Is it not SOP"
"Why, ] don't want to hurt you, OF
course. Buff you've got to knOw-l
was In a hurry. I've got date-and
I'm late"
"And | am OBTAINING you! Forgive
me-but let me go with you a little
way"
The girl shot hunted glances right
and left; then, since nothing in sight
promised diversion, said ungraeiously
Nobody can stop your walking with
me-"
Nobody but you, Leonora. One
word"
zone word from me and you'll do
exactly as you please" With nerv-
GUS laugh-"Oh, come along !"-she
turned back, walking hastily, the man
Mario falling in at her side. I'D just
as leave you didn't come all the way,
though"
"You do not wish me to know where
you 60" He nodded sober eonfrma-
ton of an unuttered guess. Il see
"You see q terrible lott" The girl
had spasm of irritation. "You're al
ways seeing things. Well, what do
you see now?"
you go to meet those others"-his
tone was sad-"those whom | have so
often begged YOU"
Guess it's my business who my
friends are"
Certainly you give me no right to
make 1t mine. That cannot affect the
truth that such associations are I'M
WISE"
Maybe I'm best Judge of that, too"
'Leonora; why pretend to me? De-
ceive yourself If you must and can
but not me, not one who loves you as
| do. Do not attempt 1t, even. 1t Is
so useless"
With courtesy the more gratifying
because it was so novel, Mario put his
hand under her arm, lightly plotting
her through the human mazes of the
brawling Street, which they crossed
squarely and quickly left behind.
After little while, being in the
wrong, she said sulkily: 81 don't see
why you're always making out I'm try
ing to put something over on you.
never promised :"
True. But YOU know what these
friends of yours are, and their ways
whittier they lead, their Inevitable end
You know, If you persist, your fate
must be as theirs"
al guess what's good enough for my
friends is good enough for me-"
mo, Leonora; you are too good for
that-or could not love you"
The man paused, and his hold on her
arm drew the girl to an unwilling
pause with him, midway down a dark
dead block of industrial buildings
with a windowless wall beside them
and not soul nearby to hear The
girl was distressed, more than a little
BUNDLED in her own esteem by this
revelation Of an affection more endur.
ing and generous and frank than any
she had ever known.
II am not a common man" Mario
was stating simple fact, innocent of
conceit. Il know the world outside fine
one WV know, and the men and won.
en- who live In 1t. Where | 90, look
about me, and reflect on what see. I
am seldom mistaken IN those who in.
terest me. And you whom love Ill.,.
| tell you. you are no more of this life
than |, and you do wrong thing -
wicked aud cruel thing, when Won
trample downsNhat which is good in
you and might bring you to splendid
destiny"
Impressed In spite of hersclf
touched, and BATTERED, too, she looked
uneaslly AWAY, twisting her hands to.
gether, her tongue faitering.
u suppose you know what you mean
IT