Part 23 (1/2)

He was sorely perplexed; he did not knohat to do--what he ought to do--even what he wanted to do One thing seeone further than was necessary in antagonizing the old woirl or not, he certainly did not wish, at this stage of the game, to make it impossible The wise plan was to leave the situation open in every direction, so that he could freely advance or freely retreat as unfolding events ht dictate So he turned in the direction of the Severence house, walked at his usual tearing pace, arrived there soly dusty of shoe and trouser-leg

Greater physical contrast could hardly have been than that between hiarden where he washis shoes, all with the sa costume of pale blue, scrupulously neat, perfect to the smallest detail As she advanced she observed hi in one of her exquisite reeable or to shrink fronance He saw her the instant she came out of the house Her dress, its harliding motion of her form combined to throw him instantly into a state of intoxication He rushed toward her; she halted, shi+vered, shrank ”Don't--look at me like that!”

she exclaimed half under her breath

”And why not? Aren't you mine?” And he seized her, enwrapped her in his arms, pressed his lips firmly upon her hair, her cheek--upon her lips

There he lingered; her eyes closed, her forh she were about to faint

”Don't--please,” she murmured, when he let her catch her breath

”I--I--can't bear it”

”Do you love led futilely in his plowman aro I shall hate you!”

”I see I shall have to kiss you until you do love me”

”Yes--yes--whatever you wishnifiedly out of his ar, as was he She frowned fiercely, then her eyes softened, became tender--just why she could not have explained ”What a dirty boy it is!” she said softly ”Go into the house and ask Williams to take you where you caninto a seat ”Cohed; obeyed She even ht passes at his wet mop of hair She wondered why it was that she liked to touch him, where a few minutes before she had shrunk frorandht of her,” said he

She startled ”How did you happen to go there?” she exclaiot herself so completely that she added imperiously: ”I wanted you to keep away froo”

”She sent for

She told me I wanted to marry you; I told her YOU wanted to marry ME

She told me I was low; I told her she was a fraud She said I was insolent; I said good-afternoon If I hadn't uess she'd have hadstone-still, her hands limp in her lap

”So you see it's all up,” continued he, with a curious air of bravado, patently insincere ”And it's just as well You oughtn't to s to go this far”

”Perhaps you are right,” replied she slowly and thoughtfully ”Perhaps you are right”

He estures, a swift jerk around of the head toward her He had all he could do to restrain hiard to his pretenses to hiie?” he asked with more appeal in his voice than he was conscious of

”Never call ain!” she cried ”It's detestable--so co your pardon,” he said with gentle dignity ”I shall not do it again Maggie was my mother's name--what she was always called at home”

She turned her eyes toward hied, her clasped hands upon his arm ”I didn't mean it at all--not at all It is I that am detestable and co else” She laid one hand caressingly against his cheek ”You ie--when--when ”--very softly--”you love me very, very much I like you to have a name for me that nobody else has”