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Cutty！ Johnny wanted to be something like Cutty。 Johnny would have
to grow up to be his own true self； for nobody could ever be like
Cutty。 He was as high and far away from the average man as this
apartment was from hers。 Would he understand her attitude？ Could
she say anything until it would be too late for him to interfere？
She was this man's woman。 She would have her span of happiness；
come ill； come good； even if it hurt Cutty； whom she loved in another
fashion。 But for Johnny dropping through that trap she might never
have really known； married Cutty； and been happy。 Happy until one
or the other died； never gloriously； never furiously； but mildly
happy； perhaps understanding each other far better than Johnny and
she would understand each other。 The average woman's lot。 But to
give her heart； her mind； her body in a whirlwind of emotions；
absolute surrender； to know for once the highest state of exaltation
… to love！
All this tender exchange with half a dozen feet between them。 Kitty
had not stirred from the far side of the tea cart； and he had not
opened his arms。 She had given herself with magnificent abandon；
for the present that satisfied her instincts。 As for him； he was
not quite sure this miracle might not be a dream； and one false move
might cause her to vanish。
〃Johnny； who is Olga？〃 The question was irrepressible。 Perhaps it
was the last shred of caution binding her。 All of him or none of
him。 There must be no other woman intervening。
Hawksley stiffened in his chair。 His hands closed convulsively and
his eyes lost their brightness。 〃Johnny？〃 Kitty ran round the tea
cart。 〃What is it？〃 She knelt beside the chair； alarmed； for the
horror had returned to his face。 〃What did they do to you back
there？〃 She clasped one of his hands tensely in hers。
〃In my dreams at night！〃 he said； staring into space。 〃I could run
away from my pursuers； but I could not run away from my dreams！
Torches and hobnailed boots！ 。。。 They trampled on her； and I； up
there in the gallery with those damned emeralds in my hands！ Ah；
if I hadn't gone for them； if I hadn't thought of the extra comforts
their sale would bring！ There would have been time then； Kitty。
I had all the other jewels in the pouch。 Horses were ready for us
to flee on； loyal servants ready to help us； but I thought of the
drums。 A few more worldly comforts … with hell forcing in the
doors！
〃I didn't tell her where I was going。 When I came back it was to
see her die！ They saw me； and yelled。 I ran away。 I hadn't the
courage to go down there and die with her！ She thought I was in
that hell pit。 She went down there to die with me and died
horribly； alone！ Ah； if I could only shut it out； forget！ Olga；
my tender young sister； Kitty； the last one of my race I could love。
And I ran away like a yellow dog； like a yellow dog！ I don't know
where her grave is； and I could not seek it if I did！ I dared not
write Stefani； tell him I had seen Olga go down under Karlov's
heels； and then ran away！ 。。。 Day by day to feel those stones
against my
heart！〃
Nothing is more terrible to a woman than the sight of a brave man
weeping。 For she knew that he was brave。 The sudden recollection
of the emeralds； a little more comfort for himself and sister if
they were permitted to escape。 Not a cowardly instinct； not even
a greedy one； a normal desire to fortify them additionally against
an unknown future； and he had surrendered to it impulsively； without
explaining to Olga where he was going。
〃Johnny； Johnny； you mustn't！〃 She sprang up； seizing his head and
wildly kissing him。 〃You mustn't！ God understands； and Olga。 Oh；
you mustn't sob like that！ You are tearing my heart to pieces！〃
〃I ran away like a yellow dog！ I didn't go down there and die with
her！〃
〃You didn't run away to…night when you offered your life for my
liberty。 Johnny； you mustn't！〃
Under her tender ministrations the sobs began to die away and soon
resolved into little catching gasps。 He was weak and spent from
his injuries； otherwise he would not have given way like this；
discovered to her what she had not known before； that in every
man； however strong and valiant he may be； there is a little child。
〃It has been burning me up； Kitty。〃
〃I know； I know！ It is because you have a soul full of beautiful
things； Johnny。 God held you back from dying with Olga because
He knew I needed you。〃
〃You will marry me； knowing that I did this thing？〃
Marry him！ A door to some blinding radiance opened； and she could
not see for a little while。 Marry him！ What a miserable wretch
she was to think that he would want her otherwise！ Johnny
Two…Hawks； fiddling in front of the Metropolitan Opera House； to
fill a poor blind man's cup！
〃Yes； Johnny。 Now； yesterdays never were。 For us there is nothing
but to…morrows。 Out there； in the great country … where souls as
well as bodies may stretch themselves … we'll start all over again。
You will be the cowman and I'll be the kitchen wench。 As in the
beginning； so it will always be hereafter； I'll cook your bacon and
eggs。〃
She pulled his chair round and pushed it toward a window； dropped
beside it and laid her cheek against his hand。
〃Let us look at the stars； Johnny。 They know。〃 Kuroki； having
arrived with coffee and sandwiches； paused on the threshold； gazed；
wheeled right about face； and returned to the kitchen。
By and by Kitty looked up into Hawksley's face。 He was asleep。
She got up carefully； lightly kissed the top of his head … the
old wound … and crossed to Cutty's door。 She must tell dear old
Cutty of the wonderful happiness that was going to be hers。 She
opened the study door； but did not enter at once。 Asleep on his
arms。 Why； he hadn't even opened that Ali Baba's bag！ Tired out
… done in； as Johnny Two…Hawks called it in his English fashion。
She waited； but as he did not stir she approached with noiseless
step。 The light poured full upon his head。 How gray he was！ A
boundless pity surged over her that this tender； valiant knight
should have missed what first her mother had known … now she
herself … requited love。 To have everything in the world without
that was to have nothing。 She would not wake him； she would let
him sleep until Captain Harrison came。 Lightly she touched the
gray head with her lips and stole from the study。
〃Oh； Molly； Molly！〃 Cutty whispered into his rigid fingers。
And so they were married； in the apartment； at the top of the world；
on a May night thick with stars。 It was not a wedding； it was a
marriage。 The world never knew because it was none of the world's
business。 Who was Kitty Conover？ A nobody。 Who was John Hawksley？
Something to be。
Out of the storm into the calm； which is something of a reversal。
Generally in love affairs happiness is found in the approach to
the marriage contract； the disillusions come afterward。 It was
therefore logical that Kitty and her lover should be happy； as they
had run the gamut of test and fire beforehand。
The young people were to leave for the West soon after the supper
for three。 At midnight Cutty's ship wou