The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1895-08-20

"Leave home? couldn't think {
doin' that" He leaned toward he
and put his arm around her, trembling
strongly. "Not even to come to IN.
, home, Demaris? / want you dear; an
either / amt rich, but Pm wei
enough Off to give you q comfortable
home an some'n' to do your work fe
you"
There was deep silence. Each fel
the full beating of the others heart
There was rose bush under the win
dow, an old-fashioned one. It's bloom
were not so beautiful, but they were
very sweet. 1t had flung slim whit
spray of them into the room. Demari
never smelled their fragrance after
ward without keen, exquisite thrill o
passion, as brief as it was delicious.
and uncertain. 81 can't leave my
mother. She's sick an gittin old.
can't"
"Oh, Demaris That's rank foolish
ness"
"Well, guess it's the right kind o
foolisness. She drew away and sa
looking at him. Her hands were press
ed together in her lap.
why, it amt expected that Cir
'ad ought to stay an take care o hel
mother forever, is it? 1t ain't expect
ed that she'd ought to turn herself into
a hospital nurse, is it ~
Her face grew stern.
| Don't talk that way Frank. That
ANT respectful to my mother. Shes
had hard life, an SOS my father,
You know want to come, but can't.
It's my place to stay an take care o
her. Pm gOin' to do it-hard's it is.
My leavin' 'em u'd just take the heart
out O both of 'em. An there's Nellie,
too"
| "Demaris--" he spoke slowly: his
| face was pale" Pm goin' to say some
| thin to you never thought I'd say to
any girl alive. But the fact is, didn't
know till right now how much / think
O. you. You marry me, an Wen all live
together
Her face softened She leaned lit
tie toward him with uncomfortable
tenderness. But as he made a quick
movement she drew back.
"No, Frank. | can't can't. 1t
won't do. Such things 3 what breaks
women's hearts !"
What thiGgs, DEAR"
Folks livin' together that way !
There's no good ever comes of it. I'd
have to set up with my mother Just
the same, and you'd he worryin' all the
time for fear it 'u'd make me sick, and
you'd be wapJin' to set up with her
yourself"
"Of COURSE" he said stoutly. "I'd
expect to. That's what ] mean. I'd
take some o your load off o you"
Demaris smiled mournfully. "Nou
don't know what it is. Frank. It's all
very well to talk about it, but when it
tn lnin) ~ h, H.,
month. You'd wish you hadn't mar
ried mean that 'u'd kill me ~
Il wouldn't. Oh, De1naris, just you
try me. I'll be good to all your folks
just s good 3 can be, dear, | swear it "
She leaned toward him again with II
sob. He took her in his arms. He felt
the delicious warmth of her body.
Their lips trembled together.
After a while she drew away slowly
and looked at him earnestly in the faint
light.
"lf thought you wouldn't change"
she faltered. know you mean it
now, but OH"
Sister," called thin, troubled
voice from the hall, "can't you cone
here just u minute" ?"
Demaris went at once, closing the
door behind her.
The child threw her thin arms
around her sisters waist, sobbing
"Oh, sister, | forgot to get the kind
Pm wood, an now it's so dark down the
cellar. I'm afraid. Can't you go with
me?"
Wait few minutes, dear, an will.
Frank won't stay long tonight"
".Oh, won't he? I'm glad" Her
voice sunk to whisper. 81 hate to
have him her, sister. He takes you
"a from nc
goes wrong when you amt here. Mas
oiful bad tonight, an pa looks so tired
Don't let him stay long, sister. He
don't need you's bad s we do"
She tiptoed into the kitchen. De-
maris stood still in the hall. The moon
was coming, large and silver, over the
hill. Its soft light brought her slender
figure out of the dark, and set halo
above her head bending on it's fair
throat. Her lips moved, but the pray
er remained voiceloss in her heart.
A moan came from her mothers
room. "Oh, paw, you hurt my head
4our hand ls so terrable rough Is
that girl goin' to stay in there for
ever?"
Demaris lifted her head and walked
steadily into the little poor parlor.
"Ill have to ask you to go now.
Frank: my mother needs me-"
Well, dear" He reached his
strong, young arms to her. She stood
back, moving her head from sido to
side.
mo, Frank. / can't marry you. now
or never. My mother comes first"
But you amt taken time to make
up your mind, Demaris. Ill wait fer
n answer"
d" It's no use. | made up my mind
out n the hall. You might s we'll go.
When make up my mind it's no use
In tryin' to get me to change it. /
hadn't made t up before"
He went to her and took her hands,
=" Demaris," he said, and all his heart
break was in his voice, "do you mean
it? Oh, my dear. I'll go If you send
me; but I'll never come back again
noverw
She hesitated but second. Then
she said very cody, without emotion
" Yes, go. You've been good to me,
but-its all over. Good-by."
He dropped her hands without q
WORD, and went.
She did not look after him, or listen
to his footsteps. She went to the cell
lar with Nellie to get the kindling
wood, which she arranged in the stove
ready for the match in the morning.
Then she went into her mothers
rooms. She looked pale In the flicker
ing candle light.
''Ill take care ~ ma now na - She