The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1939-02-09

leaned across with a comforting
manner and looked into her eyes
Its my family. My own fam
lily, / mean. They are my own
people, Evan!"
Nonsense! Nothing OF tn
kind!" said Evans lifting his well
modelled chin haughtily. "Yo'
are no more connected with then
than I am They gave you up!
should think you would neve,
want to see or hear of them!"
Something in the harshneSs o.
his tone made Marjorie give ;
little shiver and draw her hanc
quietly away from under his.
II don't feel that way, Evan!
she said gently, marveling that
after her hours of doubts she
suddenly felt clear in her mind
about the matter. "Your don't
know all about it, or you
wouldn't say that either, I'm
quite sure. Mother left letter
telling me about my people and
suggesting that I might want tC
hunt them up and see if there
was anything I could do for
them"
"And I still say, Let sleeping
dog lie'," said Evan coldly. And
then he laid his hand once more
on hers in a possessive way as il
he owned her.
"They never cared anything for
you or they wouldn't have sold
you in the first place. And now
you are a being of another world
than theirs and they have no
right to intrude into your life and
try to get your property away
from you! 1 insist"
Marjorie drew her hand decid-
eddy away from under his again
and stood up, her own chin lift
ed defantly, her eyes bright and
indignant.
Evan! You must not talk that
way! You simply don't under
stand at ALL"
But, darling, be reasonable"
said Evan SOftening his voice.
Marjorie didn't even notice he
had called her darling. 1t was
such common phrase Of the day,
and Evan was a very close friend.
But his voice was less aggressive
now, more gentle. He got up and
stood beside her, took her hands
in his and drew her nearer to
him. Listen, little girl! If you
are really serious about this
thing, of course it will have to
be investigated. l still think it
would be better not, but if you
have set your conscience to it.,
| beg you will let me do the in
vestigating for you. l am a law
yer. l know how to protect your
interests and l will do whatever
you want done conscientiOusly. l
am sure you can trust me, Mar
jorie. l love you, don't you know
it, little grip"
She looked up at him startled
1t was the first time he had ever
spoken of love. He had just been
a good friend somewhat as she
supposed a brother might be, on
ly more polite than some broth
erS.
She drew back and tried gent
ly to take her hands away from
his clasp, but he held them firm
ly and drew her closer.
Dear little girl" he said sud-
denly, putting his face down and
laying his chest against hers,
seeking ner lips with his own
pressing a kiss upon them.
For an instant she yielded her
self to that embrace, her lips to
that kiss; but only an instant so
brief it Nigh scarcely have been
recognized by the man as yield
ing. For suddenly she sprang
away, and put out her hands in
protest.
mo, please, not now! | can't
thing of such things now"
He snatched at her hand again,
trying to draw her back quietly
to his embrace.
Poor child" he said STOPPING
and kissing her fingers gently.
Don't you realize that this is
where you belong, in my arms?
Don't you love me?"
Il don't knoW!" said Marjorie
turning unhappy eyes away from
him. II haven't ever thought of
you in this way. And my heart is
full of so many other things
now"
And he suddenly drew her
close again and pressed hot kiss