The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1924-11-13

serious. IneTe WIS ho ouuS" 49,
her cheeks, no sign of any confusion
"You mean that you are sorry that
christopher interfered? That you
would have risked my fOrgetting-all
that / ought to have rememberedF"
"I am sorry that Christopher inter-
fered." she said distinctly. "At that
moment / loved you, and did not
know that 1t was wicked for me to love
Won. IF afterward you had got tired
of me. as YOU would have done. then
should have killed myself when I'M
derstood. But should have been
happy first"
"But aren't you happy nowT ne
asked.
81 am very contented." she an
swered, "and am very, very grateful.
I think that no one in the world has
ever received such wonderful kind
ness as have. But happiness, it seems
to me, is thing apart. 1t is great
and wonderful and rare gift. !
do not think that very many people
possess it, although they think they
do. / should have possessed II, TOT
however short time. If Christopher
had not interfered."
Gerald was staggered. 1t seemed to
him that this girl, walking so sedately
by his side, had suddenly become his
monitress was trying to explain to
him, as though he were pupil. great
and elemental things.
fNg ho
me very much. / never dreamed that
Won would feel like that. Surprising
then were to say to you: Come away
from here with me tomorrow; come
up to London and be my companion
there'?"
"You could not do that" she said
simply. "You could not offer me so
terrible and SO ugly an insult. Surely
you understand that then did not
know that you did not love met"
II see." he murmured.
~ loved you," she went on. her eyes
lifted little to the interlacing boughs
Of the trees under which they were
passing. when you came like prince
to the gate where stood shaking with
terror. and laughed at my fears. l
loved you when you pointed to the end
Of the road and promised to take me
there. I loved you in those first few
moments, and just as It seemed to me
then that had loved you before was
born. so know that shall love you
after die. That is just the kind Of
wisdom which even children have.
Where was simple and ignorant was
that I did not understand that love
could be one-sided. / thought that love
belonged to two people. Now ] know
very differently"
MYRTLE" he began.
She checked him gravely.
Today" she continued. "ttere is
more for me to say than for you. be-
cause am rather glad that you should
understand. Only you must not talk
to me about Christopher. am very
sorry, but think that he is foolish.
was peasant child and I knew
nothing But q wise. clever man like
Christopher should understand II
seems to me absurd that he should
think 1t possible that might love him.
1t is so absurd that do not believe
his love is real thing. ] think that
he will soon forget"
what is to become Of you. then,
MyrtileY Gerald demanded.
She looked up at him with q smile.
what happens to all those others"
she asked, who 60 through life as I
shall 60 through IT. They are very
content. Very many pleasant things
come their way. They are spared q
great deal Of suffering. So 1t will be
with me. " that we have had this talk
Gerald, ! can speak to you. perhaps, a
little more frankly. I watch you SO
closely that / see things which others
might not notice. You were without
actual happiness before because you
did not understand what happiness
was. Now you are unhappy. That II
90 sad"
Eyes,. Gerald admitted. II am un-
happy"
There is some ono for whom you
carer
He had no idea Of evading the issue.
He replied at once. simply and d.
rectly.
ut Is Mademoiselle de Poniere. whom
met at Monte Carlo. and who used to
60 out with me In the car. I have
met her again."
sand yet you are not happy7"
II am not happy" Gerald acknowl.
edged, because have not the least
idea whether she cares for me or not
She Is very mysterious. She has
troubles which she will not let me
| share"
1t seemed to him that MYRTLE
smiled. They were out Of the wood now
and crossing the park.
"All that you tell me Is very
strange" she confessed. 81 do not
pretend to understand 1t. One hears
Gerald, that In your way you have
cared for very many women. That II
rather a pity, but, II It IL true yos
perhaps do not know your own mlno