The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1936-06-05

$500
It,"
She said, without thinking, "Why
notT for she did not willfully Intend
to lead him on; but never, with any
man who had made love to her, had
she found herself so confused by feel
ing.
"There'd be nothing in 1t for you
but being my wife"
"What would that be like, Rodney?"
Now, why had she said that7 Did she
want him to break the restraint he
held upon himself?
"Being my wife? Do you want me
to tell your"
"Can you, Rod?"
"Can II" He was gazing at her so
that her eyes fell before his, fell to
his hands, which he was keeping con-
trolled beside him. Il can tell you
all about it-what 1t will be every
hour of the day-and night" he said,
so that she hardly heard him.
II thought for time, Agnes" he
went on, "of taking up another line,
for you. / mean, with the idea that
it might just possibly increase my
chance with you. Not to make more
money, but to make myself different,
for you. But couldn't be different"
"Not you, Rod"
"No; it'd be no use. There's only
one job can care to do. You know
what it is. Its-to find out what
makes one person live and another die.
What brings one child health and
strength and happiness, and what con-
dennis another to be a cripple or to
pain or wretchedness for life. What
does It? Not God. not Divine judg-
ment and punishment We don't be-
lieve in travesties like that any long
er. And it's not the sins Of the IA
theirs, In most cases. either. It's some
condition we can discover and cor
rect. It's some secret of biological
balance that we can uncover. It's SIM
ply problem of biology that I've got
to work at as long as I'm any good. ]
couldn't turn to anything else If I
tried to. It's the one thing that mat
tiers to me-except you.
"Tve been trying to put you two
together. l mean to imagine you to-
gether-my life, as live it, and you.
| can do 1t In my dreams. Oh, love
you so much; and l can see I'll new
er have you. Don't mistake me
in how I imagined you in my dreams,
dear; oh. my dear. You were there
waiting for me; that was all. You
always were there for me at end Of
day. Wherever / was, whatever
was doing. was going back to you.
No; I'll tell it all to you. Some day,
dreamed, we'd have little girl like
you. A very little girl with blue eyes
and hair like fax as yours used to be.
:"
ut wasn't strange, Rod. Don't
think misunderstood. Kiss me, Rod
"When l go, will, If you'll let me.
I couldn't bear 1t now. see how you
feel-sorry for me. It's plain l can
never have you. I won't make you
say it. / know. I always knew. That's
why the dreams began; but they'll be
gone now. too. That's best, l sup
pose.
Ten minutes later. Rodney left; and
she knew better than to try to detain
him. I'm driving you back to the
station" she said.
mo. Let me leave you here. i.
You can send me. II you will. with
Simmons; but you-let me kiss you
now"
Never with such tenderness, never
with so much strength restrained. had
a mans hands clasped her His arm
did not encircle her. His hands upon
her shoulders. he drew her to him !;
she lifted her lips and kissed him.
Once; that was all; he did not try to
repeat it.
Again. Rodney" she whispered,
reaching up. stretching on tiptoes to
offer herself once more.
"You don't repeat-death," he de-
MED her. -.
Agnes moved about the empty house.
gazing out at the snow.
She could do no differently about
Rodney; she did not love him. She
felt for him with keen pity which
had no equal In her meetings with
men: but she did not desire him. Was
love-desire? Was that the decisive
sensation in your life?
Was admiration for a man, sympa.
thy for him, caring for him. nothing
In comparisonl Did no qualities In
you or in him count, unless you de-
sired him?
Flames were leaping and swapping
from maple logs freshly laid on the
huge stone hearth Of the hall; and the
green glass eyes in the pair of jag
uar heads on the wall opposite
cleaned their reflection Of the dane
ing fire.
Five years ago her father had shot
the jaguars In Brazil. having sudden
ly found need to cease to be manu-
facturer Of electrical equipment and
to become. instead, a hunter set upon
traversing tropical jungles to kill
something dangerous and savage.