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FLAMING YOUTH

“Wh-wh-what did you do it for?” It was almosta whimper.

“I don't know.

I didn’t mean to—at the beginning.”

“Did you love him?”

“Yes. I thought I did.” “You love him now,” he charged, his fury mounting “I don't!

I love you.”

“This is a hell of a thing to tell a man you say you love.” he faltered plaintively. “You'd rather I hadn*t teld you. way! I had to tell.”

Instantly he was suspicious. have to?”

Im not built that

“Had to?

Why did you

“Not for any reason that you'd understand.” The slight emphasis on the “you™ was the first teuch of bitter ness she had allowed herself. “Wouldn’t he marry you?” “JI wouldn’t marry him.” Menty perceptibly brightened. Pat’s womanly intuiWiens, supersensitised by the strain of the contest, told her why. If, to his male standards, she was a maiden despoiled, she was at least not a woman scorned; her

rating had gone up sensibly. “Where is he now?”

“J don’t know.

I haven't seen him for a long time.

Pll never see him again.~ “Pat,” with an air of resolute magnanimity—“Gf you'll

tell me whe it was I'll marry you anyway.”

At that her pale cheeks flamed. “Pm not begging you to marry me, Monty. I'm not that cheap in the market.” “You want our engagement broken?” “That’s up to you. Absolutely. If you think, now