The Ocala evening star., 1922-06-15

1ueEe WAS QUICK caIcn or hlJIN =
breath. "Oh, Will, you are so blind ="
she whispered. Couldn't you see? Are
you going to make me tell you, VIII?
Are you going to make me tell you
that love you?''
She put her arms about his neck. and
her face on his shoulder Wilton, dunn
founded, hardly stirred; he did not
know what to do.
''Pll tell you because 1 see 1 must"
she whispered. 1--WE always loved you,
viii. And l never cared for joe"
"Kitty!'
The cry that broke from his lips
held all the anguish of his disillusion-
ment. His face grew scarlet. He tried
to free himself, but she clung tightly
to him.
you've made me tell you. VIII, and
you must hear me now," she said II
never cared for JOe-not in that way
He wanted me, and 1 thought l could
learn to love him. 1 was happy with
him, but what could he expect? He
would have been old enough to have
been my father. What right had he to
marry me, ignorant as I was Of love
and of the world? / was happy with
him-till 1 met you.
II always loved you, VIII, and 1t
was my right to love you. 1t was you
built up in your mind all that about my
loyalty to Joe. 1 cared for Joe in a
way, but that was all. If you imagined
all that you did, was to blame for it?
Sometimes you nearly drove me crazy
with your talk about Joe, about his
work, about my loyalty to him, when
1 was hungry for your love.
"Pm ashamed-God knows how I'm
ashamed to tell you this. You made
me, Will. While Joe lived was true
to him. I'm free, and you are free, and
love cannot be bound. And 1 don't
care snap of my fingers for the Mis-
satibi. l care for you. I'm shameless
now, when 1 say this, but you should
have seen-you should have known.
What right had you to drOne out your
refrain of Joe, Joe, all the day to me,
when my heart was crying out for you,
and. you would not hear it? 1 want
your love, Will want you to love
me, and to take me away from Mani
toba, where I'll never hear Of the Mis-
satibi again-or joe"
Afterward it seemed to Wilton like
a dreadful dream. Gently he put her
arms from his neck, and rose to his
feet. And, because the nature of the
man was of that simplicity that in
ctin nd ,ot
ger, but a deep pity that filled his
heart
I'm sorry, Kitty" he said. "What
you have told me makes an end Of
much that have planned and dreamed
Of 1t takes the zest out Of things. 1t
was my fault. Let us 60 back"
She looked at him with white face,
set lips and blazing eyes. She rose
without a word, declining his hand,
and without a word they went back
along the cleared road in the twilight.
He left her at her door.
He went to his shack and sat at his
desk for a whole hour, his head rest
ing heavily in his hands, All that he
had given his life to seemed broken,
was the lOdestOne of hisslife, but even
love is not all man has to live for.
After a long time he was aware of
a low tapping at his door. He rose
and opened it. Kitty stood there in the
gathering darkness. She came a few
steps into the office. and stopped.
"Win," she said in a low voice, 81
70 Il fn fr1r
what l told you-partly true. But
was OverwrOught and weak"
The heavy cloud that hung about
him partly lifted. Wilton grasped at
the hope she gave him as a man, con-
vinced against his will, turns again to
his accustomed habits of thought. and
will not see.
Kitty" he said, st should nave
known. l was blind. looked for per
| lection. | was to blame. Let US for.
get it ALL
She answered in the same strained
monotOnous voice. "I did love Joe
she said. I'm way, 1 did. AS much
as women mostly love their husbands
| I gave lin all the love that was his
right. And | do care for the line.
| want you 10 wipe all memory of this
| afternoon out of your mind. Try t
think of me as you used to-"
| He took her hands in his. It's al
forgotten. Kitty" he said. I'VE won'
| think of il again"
| But all that night his thoughts re
volved about that dark spot in hi
mind. which he had barred off, as II
had been a prison.
cEApTEP Wiz