The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1888-07-20

you can save your reputation or re
gain your place before the world is tC
let me make you my wife"
81 won't do any such thing" she
answered instantly. 81 am surprised
you should think for a moment that
[ could"
"But / ask it for your sake" he said
pointedly. can adventure OF this sort
may be overlooked in q man. but in a
woman"
Gan adventure" repeated Marian,
her frank, brown eyes full oil
astonishment. "But could we pos
sibly help it? Did we want to stay
here? Who in the world could blame
US for a matter entirely beyond our
power to control?"
Eugene looked at her fixedly for a
long moment. cit was in your power,
Miss Hanford," he reioined quietly.
'You would not allow me to leave
you. = II am going to Dixon"
he repeated with added irmness, "to
find q minister. In the mean time,
try to use your reason-if that be
possible he could not refrain from
this slight thrust. "And be assured
OF one thing, that it will not be my
fault if your good name is sacrificed
through an accident for which you
tell me | was to blame in the first
place"
He turned on mis- heels and LETT her
helplessly watching his retreating
figure.
"Good morning, Uncle Reuben; can
l see Mrs. Landt?"
Marian" shouted Uncle Reub,
putting his head in at the doorway;
"come down, will you? Mr.. Ian
your husbands here"
He bestowed a wink on Eugene as
he substituted the word. "Her foot's
all right again. She's goin' up to
school tomorrow, l believe"
He nodded and passed along the
veranda to the farmyard gate.
In a moment Marian came. She
was blushing and breathing fast, and
her brown eyes were lowered. They
barely touched each others hands.
81 heard you were about to take
up school again." he said gravely.
"Is it true?"
"But I must" she answered in q
subdued voice, still not daring to
look at him. "My term will not
end"
"Marian!" He caught her gently,
turned her in his strong arm, and
walked her into the little dark parlor,
where the horse-hair sofa and mildew
were. "Let us talk together a
moment as friends, at least. You
are my WIFE" She WINGED at the
word, and Eugene withdrew his arm
proudly. "But youare afree woman,
too. Only l beg you not to pam me
by persisting in this. have settled
on you an ampleincome-money that
would have been yours by right, dear,
only for the legal injustice that made
1T mine. Ihave arranged to go away.
But l will 60 away a very wretched
mar unless lean think ofyoucared for
and happy. Promise methat YOU will
not teach any more; that you will
accept your rights as my wife. as the
woman love-"
Don't dare to say you love me-"
She stepped back from him, looking
very pale, but very piteous, too.
You are sorry for me; and you
hink"-
II am not sorry for you," he inter-
rupted, firmly. "Indeed, no. Who
could be sorry for one so proud
and-cold? But l am sorry for my
SELF" he added, slowly, "because in
spite of all your faults. 1 love you
dearly"
And then Marian came slowly near,
and shyly took hold of Eugene's coat
button and examined it closely as
she spoke.
"Ifyou love me-" she said softly
"you took a long time to tell me So"
"Marianl"
"You did. This is the first time
you ever limited such a thing was
possible"
"Dearest-but you must have
known!"-
"Only tell me by what means. I
might as we'll say tnat-you-must
have known"
"Oh, Marian"
"Well," she said, but she laid her |
cheek against his arm to say it, 81
didn't love you the least bit-not at
all, until very, very lately. 1t seems
I am only just beginning to know you
now. And then-well, lob, Eugene, |
you are good!"
To this little outburst of coherent
Mr.. Landt merely said.
"My precious girl"
Presently she held up her obstinate
little head again.
"But ] never would have married
you that neutrality-suspicious. only
the minister only dear old Mr.. Earl
persuaded me. You never could
have managed it for yourself.
"Pd have managed it later, though"
answered, laughing.