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 FLAMING

YOUTH

’ Pat took her courage in her hands. baby?”

223

“Dee, is it his

“If it were, I’d want to have it,” was the low, vehement

response. For the stood well her forces

“I’d be proud to have it.”

moment Pat was awed. Passion she underenough; but not in this degree. She gathered again.

“Ts it Jimmie’s, then?” “Yess it’s Jim’s.”

“You say that,” marvelled Pat, “as if you were ashamed of xt.” “Tam. God knows I am!” She bowed her proudly set head in her hands and rocked it to and fro.

“Pat, there’s

nothing so rotten and shameful in the world as marrying a man you don’t love.” “You didn’t have to,” said Pat, gaping. “What did you do it for?” “The usual thing: convenience. And because I was afraid of making a fool of myself by—with someone else. It couldn’t come to anything, the other thing. So I got reckless and took Jim. It wasn’t a fool that I made of myself; it was something worse. Shall I tell you?” “No. Don’t think it. You did the right thing.” “Of course! As we figure it out. And I’ve paid for it, But I won’t pay for it this way. I won’t! I won't!” “F would,” said Pat slowly. “If I went into it I’d go through with it. You’ve got to be fair to Jimmie. Does

he know?” The smile called forth by the query disfigured Dee’s mouth. “No. And he never will know, what’s more.”

“You're going to get out of it? of those people in the newspaper?” CoV es?

“Isn't it terribly dangerous?”

You’re going to one