Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1892-08-12

There was no answer for long time,
and then She said slowly, 81 like you"
Il don't believe it," he said. looking
full at her "Nou love me-
"What is love?' she asked, eyasively.
1T is the same old thing" he said /;
'there is no improvement Oh it: and ! he
lieve you love me Am ! not more to YOU
than any other man?"
"lf you are, that means nothing" she
said.
at does, because it is mutual"
"Well, what thcn?" she said.
1t was his turn to flush. "Why. well
marry he answered.
She raised her eyebrows slightly. "What
then?'
''We'l be together.
whats the use?"
He jumped up angrily. "You force me
into an unpleasant attitude" he said.
| whats the matter with you? You don't
know how this sounds. What do people
usually marry for?'
81 don't know what men marry for,
she said. women marry for different
! things-almost everything"
He caught her by the hands Il have
never known YOU like this before"
And have never known you like this
! before" she said. you are different to
me now. have cared so much for our
friendship that have never thought Of
| this She moved away from him.
That is right he said: "be frank with
me. Why wont you marry me?''
II am afraid to- she answered looking
away from him in sudden shyness. Then
Ill. 4 10. Ill 4. IN
| you, Kenneth; you are surely my best
/ FRIEND She looked up al him. "All
my life | have tried in the most childish
and persistent manner to make myself be-
| lieve in everything, but all the time there
| has been within me the lurking knowledge
/ that have been trickng myself seem
| TO be two peope-an elder person deceiv.
| ing child. Even in my religion. you
know, l shut my eyes tight, and said.
! Now you mustn't ask questions. 1t may
| he all right it probably is if YOU will only
accept authority: but | wont permit my
self to wonder. am emotional high
strung, and have always felt that there i,
only one chance out of ten for happiness
for me. And, oh, hope | shall be happy.
do want to be happy. | never have been
| yet She stopped, carried away by her
own thoughts, and broOded some minutes
And what is that one chance out OF
ten?' at last asked Dorrance.
She started, and a burning color dyed
her face Then She raised her head and
! looked him bravely in the ewes. and said
ITO marry a man whom ! deeply and pas
sionately loye-which nearly all women
miss"
Dearest, he said, in low tones. you
will do that
Unless" she went on IL merely marry
the man who loves me-which nearly al
women do. You find such men often
enough
There was a silence.
'Will you marry me?' he said again
gently
"How am l to know that You are tn,
tenth MANI she replied, evasively. You
are not labeled"
Il have been ever since met YOU" he
answered.
Il am afraid" she said. Marriage i,
the one state where | cannot tell myself
that am happy. could not even attempt
any disillusion. could only sit down
bury my head in my lap, and say: i an
not happy. | am not happy" What
should do them
You dear child" he said
mo; that is the trouble" she answer.
ed. II am not a child. have always beer
old"
Il need not tell You all that YOU are {,
me, and believe am even that to YOU
but YOU do not know il" he said. smiling
at is no use. - she said, YEARLY. II an
tired talking about ii; besides, | am going
away next week, back to my married sis
tiers, where live"
He looked away, far over to the river
and marked its course down the canon. tC
the lonely gulch, the narrow winding road
a cabin; then he looked at the girl before
him.
And l, he said, "am going away to
night"
"To-night!" She echoed.
"To-night,' he said. Il shall certainly
start about seven O'Clock down that canon
on this pony. ! will stay all night al
some ranch down here, so | will have al
early start to catch the early train at tn,
nearest railroad point for Denver. My
traps are always ready to be moved at
moments notice, and they can be sent aft
er me.
She sat down. You are really going?'
she said. She looked pale.
Yes he answered. Il am through
! Win everything mere. INTENDED 10 ldlh
to you this afternoon, but | thought tn,
ending would have been different. Their,
is no reason now why | should remain
here. | cannot remain here and have vol
leave He looked at his watch. 1T il
now four o o'clock, and / will have to b,
leaving you; there are a few things to ge
together, you know
You are really going?'' she said again
Yes, - he replied. your ideas are ;,
fixed, ! have been foolish to attempt t,
change them, and there is no use in con
tinuing with you a friendship that has II,
object. am not fond of air-plants: | an
only man He took the reins of hi
horse.
"Good-by, dear; we have been friend
this summer, and / shall have the memor,
of it anyway. And l shall never be quit
alone in the world, for | shall know tina
my soul once recognized another: nothin!
can take that from me-" He held he
hand against his face, you will not asl
me to stay?'
She shook her head. and he mounted hi
horse and rode away. She sat in some
thing like a stupor where he had left her
He was not gone: and yet he was descend
ing the slope, and she could see only hi
shoulders, his head then nothing of hin
at all. In fright she called to him. but he
voice was faint, and she scarcely heard /
herself. 1t was all so sudden. She still