The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-02-01

I'm tell you Why" Connie an,
| swered quietly. But | can't tel
YOU here. Aren't you coming in,
Bret? Or no e. wait! Will you
walk with me-up our hill?".
Il didn't suppose you remem'
bcrcd that We had a 'hilr," he
said gruffly. There was no yield
ING in his dark eyes. IL can't see
what's the use of your telling me,
after all. | suppose you simply
changed your mind again-on an
other impulse. As you probably
will do time and again without
end"
"You hate me, don't you, Bret?"
Her voice was soft, but her lips
uuivcred. Not that blame you,
| deserved that. | deserve any
thing YOU care to say to me, or
think against me. But, please
if | fetch my wrap, before you
come in. will you walk up the
hill?" =,
"As YOU. like. ~ His man.
ner said that it did not matter.
He would remain as he was; stole,
impersonal. defenses furled.
She caught up an old sweater,
nulled il on, closed the door be-
hind her. Without saying any
thing more they fell into step side
bv side. They walked in silence,
but with their accustomed swing
| ing rhythm, for Comics step
matched his long stride, until they
had reached the top of their hill.
The little white church still
smiled down upon them; the king
dom that Bret had said belonged
to her. still stretched below. In
the east night clouds gathered: in
the west the sun was round ball
of golden fire. o, c.
asked. and waited for Bret to
spread his handkerchief on tn"
log. -,
, He did that for her, but he did
not sit down. He stood looking
out on that wide panorama Of
wild. untrammeled majesty, feast
ing his eyes, and his soul.
'It's my country, too, now,
Bret" Connie said. Il believe |
love it almost as much as you do.
! believe IN always. come back TO
| it. ! know it will never disap-
point me, or fail me, but, like no.
where else in the world, will make
me new once more"
"Pm glad it means that to
YOU" he said; but with that same
reserve and stiff formality. NAT
urally, | love it; it is part of me.
Not only of me-. but of all my
people who lived here before me.
Plain people. Pioneers. My great
grandfather was granted his plot
of land from General Washing
| ton"
He had pride in his people, as
he had in his land; more than
pride, respect an drcverence. She
understood why; it was the pride
of ancestry, of blood; it had moth
ing to do with fame or money OIL
material things.
You think l will change
again." she said, searching fol
words to break down the barriers
between them; the pride, the hurt,
the force of his will. But
shan't. | am sure of that. SureI
than / ever was of anything. I've
grown up, Bret. l suppose you
think it is about time, 1t was .
painful process. had to hurt not
only myself, but others, too. Rod
ney for one. You, perhaps most OF
all. Or maybe myself - if yor
won't try to understand and for
give me-"
There is nothing to forgive,
he said. Still he stood, staring GU
at the hills on the horizon, watch
ing the sun sinking slowly bchint
them, the sky turning into a glory
! of scarlet and gold, blue and vic
| let. ~ am as much at fault a
YOU; there is as much in me tt
forgive. | let you change me:
thought / could change you. Eact
of us is what each has Away
been"
you're wrong" Connie pro
tested. She got to her feet, stoot
beside him. She could not beal
! his cold Indifference; it was ;
knife thrust into her heart. If HI
no longer loved her, if he though
she had not changed, how coult
she hope to make him believe il
her again. give her anothe,
chance, try together, once more
to rebuild their lives and thei
marriage?
| You're terribly wrong" she
said again. Not that | blame yo,
for thinking of me as you do.
did try to change you, Bret. In
glad didn't succeed. loved VOL
because you were different from
other men. Because you were a
you are. :. :"
And | love girl named kati
. Blyn." His tone was bitter; h
turned on her, for moment only
you're not trying to tell me yo
are that girl again"
She shook her head, caught he
lip between her teeth; tear
pressed so close behind her eye
lids, choking in her throat. "No
not that girl. But not Constanc
Corby, either. Maybe you will be
licve me, Bret-and believe in m
when tell you what / have de
cided TO do"