The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1925-11-02

then smothercd her Easplng protest
with his lips, For "a long moment
they stood thus
u knew Il wasn't merely an ami
maj appeal that stirred you I know
it was something bigger and more
lasting than that Picrye murmurrd
You mean tho woman In
guircd. family.
II mean thla-mary me here, to-
morrow.
NO MOI Please The Countess
freed herself from Plercr's embrace.
why notf Arc you afraid ur met
She shook her head silently.
You make lt absolutely necessary
Tor me 90 speak the Countess told
him. Her tone again had a touch Of
wtaaucss in h. but Pierce did not
see this. II know IA have 20. soon
or or later. hut q VAS uice 20 DRIFT
and 10 drcam-oh, II wa pleasant
SO l bit down OF my tongue and l
listened 10 nothing but tho song In
my heart.
I'm not a weak woman" she be,
E5n, staring AZ the naked candle
flame which save light 10 the tent,
IT wasn't weakness that impeiled
me to marry a man I didn't love.
Il was the determination 90 set ahead
and the ambition 10 make something
worth while out Of myself-a form
OF selfshness, perhaps. but tell you
an ONE are selfish. Anyhow, ho
seemed 90 promise better things and
10 open a way whereby ] could make
something out OF my life, Instead
" that he opened my eyes and
showed me tho world "a IL Is, not as
l had imagined Il TO be, IIo was
10 good. You may think l was un.
happy over that, but l wasn't, really,
he didn't mean much 20 mo What
did grlcye me. tho. was that death Of
my illusions. Hr was meFccnary-
the fault OF his trimming. I dare say
but he had that man-eall spoke
about, It's really a woman-call. lilo
was weak. worthlc9s-nul OF faults.
mean in small things. but he had an
attraction and IL was impossible 10
resist motherinE him. Other women
felt Il and yielded TO Il, so finally we
went OUT separate ways. Two seen
nothing or him for some time now.
but he keeps In touch with mo and
I've sen him q good deal Of money,
When he learns that | have prospercd
IN q big way ho1i undoubtedly turn
up again"
Phillips rccolled. his face whiteued.
Dismay, reproach. a shocked surprise
were in the look he turned upon his
companion.
SIN married. no grasped oh
Hlldar
She nodded and lowered her eyes.
Il supposed you know-uutil l got
to telling you. and then II was too
late
Pierce rose; hts lips now were as
colorlcss az his checks. I'm sur
prised, hurt" he managed to say
How should l know why. this is
wrctchej-rottcn' People viii say
that Two got in a mess with n mar.
rtrd womnu That's what II looks
like. too, His voice broke huskily.
How could you do Il. when / meant
my loyo TO be clean. honorable7 How
could YOU let me put myself. and you.
in such q position
Don't be too hRSty In your judg.
ment. can't you sect I was weak.
I vas tired. Then You came. like a
draught Of wine. and lost my
head But I've rcgaincd Il. i
dreamed ms dream, but It's daylight
/ now and I'm awake. I know that
you believe me a heartlcss. selfish
woman. Maybe I am. but I've tried
TO think FOR you. and to act on that
/ good impulse, | tell YOU | would
have been quite incapable OF It b.
fore / knew you. A day. a month.
a year OF hhpplnessl Most women
Of my nEe and experience would
snatch NJ Il. but I'm looking farther
ahead than that. I can't afford an
other mistake. Life fits me. but you
why, you're bursting your seams
You've puzzled mo with a lot Of
words" the young man said. with
ever.growlng resentment, but what
do they all amount to? You amused
yourself with mo and you're ready
enough 10 continue so long an / pour
my devotion 1t your feet. Well, /
won't do II. I'm play tho game an
you played g." He turned bllndly
and with lowered head plunged out
of the tent into the night.
The Countess listened to the sounds
OF his departing footsteps; then. when
they had ceased, sho rose YEARLY
and flung out her arms There was
a real and poignant distress in her
eyes.
Boy! Boyl she whispered. ct
was sweet, but-thers had to be an
end
For n long time she stood staring
at nothing; then she reused herself
with a SILVER, refilled the stove, and
seated herself again. dropping her
chin upon her knees MS she did in.
stinctiyely when in deep thought.