Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1892-05-17


q splnt aud not real flesh and blood.
But how you have changeJl You look
older by years than you did when you
went away"
IL am delighted to hear that. for you
usssl To torture mo with remarks on my
youthful appeannce." aid Rush. leading
her 90 q chair and taking her vacant
place on the hearth rug.
"Did n am grie,ei 90 know that
was ever - rido ne % make such Per.
sonal remarks; but can never say any
thing of that sort again. for you certainly
look much moro than two years older"
"icannot say that % you" saii Rush;
"you look ten years younger.
"Dont tell mo that; people always be-
gin telling q woman how young she
looks when they rcalirs that sho is mo-
longer young. IL 10 tho first sign that
oldagc is creeping on. hut tell me what
this means-why aro you homer I sup
pose your departure from London must
have been sudden, or you would have
lct your friends know of the treat In
store for them
"Now please don't guy me. Mis-
Knowlton." saii Rush. my Departure
from tho other side was sudden; didn't
know until forty eight hours before I
sailed that was to come. Tho chief
sent Tor mo o. meet him In Paris There
hc told mo ho wanted me TO become
managing editor Of Tho Dawn at once:
- hurried back 10 New York by tho
lint steamer
Managing editor % Tho Dawn You
take your honors coolly. That Is as fine
n position as u journalist could have.
congratulate you, but I am not sur.
prised Prom thu way ] heard peopls
speak of your work In London. was
prepared for anything"
People were very kind 10 speak well
of my work. II they had only known
my incentive. however. they would have
wondered Why didn't 10 better. But
enough about me; tell mo about yourself.
that Is much more interesting subject.
You lookci AL as I enterc,i. and you
brathed deep sigh Has anything
guns wrongl wish you would make
me your coniidant; You must know tha,
| would not only share any of your
troubles. but take the burden of them
upon my own shoulders mostchcerfully.
A trOublel expression passed over
lIelcn's face. and yet with 70 there was
little twinkle In her eye. az though some
thing amusing hal happcned.
II saw Mr.. Hastings leaving your door
a. entered. Had you saii anything To
make him very happy-or very unhappy
Ills faco woro a most pcculiar eIprcs-
sion"
II don't know whether he was happy
or unhappy In hi. mind. Tho only sen
sation he expressed before mo was one of
surprise" And sho smiled at the thought
"You will forgive mo II | AK you q
question point blank. have q feeling
that Mr. Hastings made q proposal of
marriage 90 you this afternoon. Am
righty' said Rush, a. quietly as a man
could when very much excited
"Mr. Ilurlstone," aid Helen. rislng.
you forget yourself. Your question 10
impcrtinent"
"No, IL q, not impairment No man
who loves woman NJ ! love you would
ask her an impcrtinent question. lmust
b. answered one. and for all. Every
ono says you are engaged TO Mr. Hast
ingS Il true~
Rush's heart boat - hard and fas, that
IL almost chokeJ him Ills eyes were
hxei intently upon IIelen's. ~ though
ho would read every thought that passai
through her brain. She hesitatsi mo-
mcnt bcfore answering him; and then
she said. slowly, In low. soft voice;
"No. am not engaged 10 Mr. Hast
ingS ! have never bccn engaged 10
him. and never shall b.."
Then. Ilelcn.- sail Rush. taking her
hand. will you listen 10 mel ! have
loved YOU devo,edly for fivo ycars-cy,r
Iince my eyes first saw your beautiful
face. Ihave hal no thought but OF you
during all these years did not tell
you of my love. because I believed that
you were not 90 bs taken by storm-at
least not by the. who at that time could
b. nothing more to you than boyish ac-
auaintance. but lived every day Of
my life with the ono end In view. You
aro to me life. and love. and everything
that there Is In the world. II you will
D. my wife you will have q lover for q
husband 10 the end Of your days, II you
say no TO me. God help met I am not
man enough 10 bear such blow quietly.
hut you will not say no. Helen-you
cannot say no 10 man who adores you.
who worships you. who lives only for
you. I must know; cannot live any
longer In suspense. Helen-darling-
will you bs my wifeY'
Rush spoke every word slowly. and
with an intensity that there was no mis-
taking. Helen stood pale as death before
him. and In q voice scarcely audible. said;
"lt cannot b. u cannot lel'
"My God. Helen, what do you mean
Do you love another NAM
"So, I love no other man; bat u can.
not H.: you would repent In sackcloth
and ashes bsforc you were %. Don't
you know I am i've years older than
youl would b. an old woman while
you were q young man"
"And would YOU let such thing as
that wreck q mans lifel couldn't love
a woman younger than myself. A wo-
man l. not interesting Ia me until she "a
~. though began to love you when You
were 25. l. this question of years the
only obstacle In my way. iieleny
ut l. sinsurmountable," !" aid Helen. In
n whisper. turning her head away.
MY darling" And Rush's strong
arms were around her In . second, and
her head was resting on his broad
shoulder. The long twilight shadows lay
across the floor; but Rush saw only the
glory of the October sun a. its rays fell
upon the face of her whom he had at last
won after years Of patient waiting.
THE ESD.