The Argosy, Vol. 81, No. 4 — page 137: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

3-4 f- 9-4 and, turning, led the way, Lansing follow- ing. Behind a group of palms there was a cane seat for two, and here they settled them- selves. “Miss Granger,” he began, plunging at once into his subject, “why do you forgive me so readily for that scene the other night?” “You misunderstood,” ‘she answered. “The police explained it to me. I don’t blame you. And,” she added, ‘“‘I told you I loved action, or rather football—one and the same thing—and, I’m almost afraid to tell you, but I thought you thrilling that night. I have scolded my -cousin Count Apponnetti” “Tt was nice of you.” Lansing wanted to ask her how she came to be here, but found this breach of eti- quette beyond him. “Look here, Miss Granger,” he said instead, “you are doing something you ought not to do. Am I, who am so interested in you, not entitled to say this much? To warn you?”’ “Vou will know all, very shortly,” she smiled back at him ‘Just now—have I suf- ficient influence with you to ask that you withhold your opinion?” “Influence! Miss Granger! Helen. Don’t you know what your influence is! Don’t you know, haven’t you realized that you are Pi the one girl I ever met who moves me to. the very depths of my soul? When I am not with you I try to forget, try to keep you out of mind—” “Why should you do that?” she asked quickly. “But I can’t,” he hurried on, “and when I am with you it seems as though you swept me into the—the embrace of your person- ality and held me there, dominating me, filling me with nothing but, you—you— you! Helen, I love you, that’s all. What you are doing doesn’t matter to me. Noth ing matters but you! My arms ache for you.” He stood up and bending down seized her bare arms with his hands. Her star-like eyes were turned up to him. “Please don’t, Mr Lansing”’ She drew away, shivering, and Lansing released his grip. As she slowly rose he came very close to her. “Helen! It is love! I love you! I won’t live longer without you” “Listen, Mr. Lansing—” 703 “Stewart!” he demanded. “Stewart, listen.. What you say makes me proud. I want you to—to—take me in your arms and tell me again you love me— just that, and then I want you to let me go.” With a glad cry he drew her to him. “Helen,” he whispered, ‘‘I love you.” “Now,” she said, “kiss me—and let me go.” His lips lingered upon hers until she pushed away and the two stood staring wonderingly at each other. “Stewart,” she said at length, “‘when I told you to do what you have done I did it because I wanted you to know that I have given myself to you—to take when the time comes, if you want me, then. “But the time is not yet—”’ “The time! Not yet!” he cried. “Not yet,” she repeated, shaking her head. ‘“‘No man has ever done to me what you have just done. I am sealed to you— so far as I am concerned. When you know all you may not want me. It was because of that fear that I asked you to hold me and kiss me. I—I,” her voice trembled, ‘I wanted that much of you, anyway.” “But,” protested Lansing, ‘‘you have all of me now!” “No,” she breathed. “No! You must wait—and see! Soon I shall ask you if you feel the same. Then—” “But I can’t wait,” he returned. ‘Now is the time for you and me to stand together. You need me. I need you. You need my advice.”’ “Not now! Please, Stewart. This is awfully hard for me—just as hard as it is for you. Soon—patience, my heart; that is all I ask.” As Lansing was about to press his fur- ther claims he heard the sound of footsteps and as he drew back caught a glimpse of the full dress uniform of an officer of the engineer corps of the army. Helen saw it, too, and called. “Oh, Jack, here Iam.” She turned hast- ily to Lansing. ‘Please go, for a little while. I wish to be alone. Please go.’’ She gave him a peremptory push and Lansing obediently moved toward the door, passing as he did so the fine looking young officer who was advancing toward the girl. She was smiling and Lansing, after a swift glance toward the two who seemed engrossed in each other, did not leave the conservatory, but tiptoed swiftly into a (€) NOOLKS AMG Col