Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1935-08-30

mounted to catch her reins and steady
the stirrups so she might clear her
black skirt and swing off the side
saddle.
An odd breathless feeling gripped
Peter when, as the fragrance Of Cara's
face doomed near, and before he quite
realized i, her arms were clasped tight
about his neck. AS in the past, she
lifted her lips to be kissed. Perhaps
from force of habit, perhaps from I'M
comfortable desire, he held her pas
sionately close moment, then releas-
ed her confusedly to finger his riding
crop, while the horses regarded them
with mild surprise. "What kind OF
hunting was this?" they seemed to
ask.
Cara regarded the brown faced en-
gineer moment, an inexpressibly ten
der expression on her pink-white face.
GLOW can yo' ever forgive me, Peter?"
she sighed. 81 was so horrid last
night, perfectly awful. II reckon 1
was all upset."
A strange, frantic sensation per-
vaded the engineers being, as he SEN
sed what was coming. How he dread
ed to say what he must! Yet at the
same time he was amazed to find in
her wide, dark eyes that same queer
which had troubled him the
night before.
"Why, it's all right, Cara" he said
81 really didn't blame you
a bit for misunderstanding. 1t look
ed"
ooh, darlin,' I'm just goin' to forget
all about last night. Kiss me, Peter,
dear, and let's have everythin' as it
was-''
She took a step forward, eager and
radiant, but as Peters expression, she
recoiled and her face clouded. Flush
ing, she realized that his arms had
not risen to met her, instead his two
hands remained gripping the riding
crop.
"Why-why, Peter! Dom you want
me?" Cara's face had gone deathly
white and the skin seemed very tight
over her cheek bones.
ooh, it isn't that" he burst forth
81 do want you, but-but
last night something happened that
makes it impossible to have things
just as they were-for a while, DEAR.
At the stricken look in Cara's face,
he suffered a fearful pang; then,
with a sense of despair he saw the
red tide of Inundated pride and self
flooding her face.
81 think you'd better say what yo'
have to say" she enunciated and the
dark eyes flashed with fierce fires that
flared hotter. "What is
it? Are yo' tired of me? You-you
don't want me any more?" The mel
low voice was now hoarse, hard as the
steel stirrup dangling from Goldenrod
saddle. "Why can't things be as they
used to be?"
Because" said the tall figure mis-
erably, otis impossible; I've had to
do something to make our future sure"
"Our future?" Never quick men,
tally, Cara blinked in suspicious be-
mil Jo,,,oa,,+ arJ v,,aJa N pacf,,ro IF
incomprehension with her yellow glow
ed hands, while Goldenrod, startled
at the gesture, inquisitively turned his
head in her direction.
81 must be awfully stupid" said she
whats this you're doing
for our future that prevents our bein'
engaged to another girl?" The fires
relaxed little, her eyes playing over
his face like glittering probes.
"Cara, dearest, I've got to ask you
to believe in me. You must have
lot of faith, he pleaded fiercely and
taking her small limp hand in his.
"The truth is that last night II, well
Il became engaged"
Cara's breath bolted with a tiny
click, and her small body moved con-
as though snake had bitten
her. Engaged" faltered Cara. "You
another girl?" The fires
in her eyes increased thousand fold.
"You-you dare tell me-"
"But remember" cut in Peter des-
perately, "Wait till I finish, it was
really for your sake"
"Indeed?" Mercilessly chill as Feb
ruary blast came Cara's voice. "And
who might this girl be?"
Helena Merwin," the words fell
like stone from Peters lips. aye
gods, how I hate her!"
Instantly, Cara sprang back, lips
writhing and with scarlet banners
flung across cheeks that were other