Part 18 (2/2)
”Yes--Kurt.”
Some alien, inexplicable force seemed to battle with his nature. His lips quivered and then compressed as if in a mighty resolution.
A moment later she slid from the window seat to the floor.
”It is late; good night!” she said quietly.
He rose, took her hand in his and said earnestly:
”Good night, Pen. I wish--”
Again he stopped abruptly.
”I know what you wish,” she said in a matter of fact way; ”you are wis.h.i.+ng that I had never been--a thief.”
The color flooded his face; embarra.s.sment, longing and regret struggled visibly for mastery.
”Good night,” she repeated, as she quickly sped from the room, leaving him speechless.
Upstairs in her room she stood by the window.
”Kurt,” she soliloquized, ”you've been weighed and found wanting. You don't know what love is. No man does. It is a woman's kingdom.”
Then a radiant smile drove the reflective shadows from her eyes. There had burst forth a whistle, clear, keen, inspiring. Only one person in her world was so lark-like, so jubilant, so joyous of nature as to improvise such a trilling melody.
With an expectant smile she looked out and saw Jo crossing the moonlit lawn.
”Halloa, Jo!” she called softly.
He looked up, extended his cap at arm's length with a gay flourish and called:
”Bless your little heart of honey! What are you doing up so late?”
”Is it late?” she asked in arch surprise. ”I'm so sorry, for I was going to say I'd come down for a little walk with you.”
”'Deed, it's never too late for that; but say, little Penny Ante, Kurt is sitting in the library window--”
”I am not coming into view of the library window. Wait a moment! Catch this.”
She picked up her sweater from the window seat and threw it down to him, stepped nimbly over the railing of the little balcony, made a quick spring, caught the branch of a nearby tree and slid down to earth.
”Say, you little squirrel! You'd make some sailor. It's hungry I've been for sight of you. I met Gene in town this afternoon and he told me about the wonderful stunt you pulled off this morning for Francis.”
”That was nothing. But--have you come back, Jo?”
”Not yet. I'm motoring in from town and left my car down in the road. I just thought I'd pa.s.s by your window and let out a whistle for you.”
”Jo, I came down to say something serious--”
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