White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1923-06-29
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
INSTALLMENT NO. 7.

like to be accused of distressing PEG
pie when l don't deserve il" she said.
II had better leave you. Let me by,
if you please.
Having committed one error in
offending her, Moody committed an
other in attempting to make his peace
with her. Acting under the fear that
she would really leave him, he took
her roughly by the arm.
You are always trying to get away
from me-" he said. Il wish L knew
how to make you like me, Isabel"
Il don't allow you to call me lisa
bell" she retored, struggling to free
herself from his hold. Let go of my
arm. You hurt me-"
Moody dropped her arm with a bit
ter sigh. Il don't know how to deal
with you" he said, simply. Have
some pity on mel"
If the steward had known anything
of women (at lsabePs age) he would
never have appealed to her mercy in
those plain terms and at that unpro-
pitious moment pity you?" she re-
peated, contemptuously. is that all
you have to say to me after hurting
my arm? What bear you are!" She
shrugged her shoulders and put her
hands coquettishly into the pockets of
hn, c.1, milf n1
him. His face turned paler and paler
he writhed under it.
"For Gods sake, don't turn every
thing l say to you into ridicule!' he
cried You know | love you with
all my heart and soul. Again and
again l have asked you to be my wife,
and you laugh at me as if it was a
joke. l haven't deserved to be treated
in that cruel way. 1t maddens me-
l can't endure it,"
Isabel looked down at the floor, and
followed the lines in the pattern Of the
carpet with the end of her smart lit
tie shoe. She could hardly have been
further away from really understand
ing Moody if he had spoken in He
brew She was partly startled, partly
she had unconsciously called into be-
ing. "Oh, dear mel she said, why
can't you talk of something else? Why
can't we be friends? Excuse me for
mentioning it, she went on, looking
up at him with saucy smile, you are
old enough to be my father"
II own it," he answered, humbly. But
there is something to be said for me
Men as old as | am have made good
husbands before now. would devote
my whole life to make you happy
There isn't wish you could form
which | wouldn't be proud to obey
You mustn't reckon me by years My
youth has not been wasted in a profit
gate life. / can be truer to you and
fonder of you than many a younger
man. Surely my heart is not quite I'M
worthy of you, when it is all yours
l have lived such lonely, miserable
life; and you might so easily brighten
it! You are kind to everybody else,
Isabel. Tell me, dear, why are you SO
hard on me?"
His voice trembled as he appealed
to her in those simple words. He had
taken the right way at last to produce
an impression on her. She really felt
for him. All that was true and tender
in her nature began to rise in her and
take his part Unhappily, he felt too
deeply and too strongly to be patient
and to give her time. He completely
misinterpreted her silence-complete
ly mistook the motive that made her
turn aside for a moment to gather
composure enough to speak to him
"Ah!" he burst out bitterly turning
away on his side, you have no
heart"
She instatly resented those unjust
words. AT that moment they wounded
her to the quick.
You know best, she said Il have
no doubt you are right Remember
one thing, however; though | have
no heart, l have never encouraged
you, Mr.. Moody. have declared over
and over again that | could only be
your friend. Understand that for the
future, if you please. There are plenty
of nice women who will be glad to
marry you, have no doubt. You will
always have my best wishes for your
welfare. Good-morning. Her ladyship
will wonder what has become of me.
Be SO kind as to let me pass"
Tortured by the passion that con
sumed him, Moody obstinately kept
his place between Isabel and the
door The unworthy suspicion of her,
which had been in his mind all
through the interview, now forced it's
way outward to expression at last.
'"No woman ever used man as you
use me without some reason for it,"
he said. you have kept your secret
wonderfully we'll; but sooner or later
all secrets get found out know
what is in your mind as we'll as you
know it yourself You are in love
with some other man."
Isabels face flushed deeply; the de-
fensive pride of her sex was up in