The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-03-02

Sally looked mp and saw Kenneth.
Her heart seemed to rush into her
mouth. She dismissed the girl and
steadied herself. A mirror was in front
of hex, and she saw her own face pale
Is death, with dark shadows round the
eyes. She wore a dingy, old black dress,
but even that could not conceal the
grace Of the lovely young neck and the
sweep Of the beautiful shoulders. And
now Kenneth entered. And when she
saw his radiant face, full Of strength
and fervor, she felt that he looked years
younger than she did. That sorrowful,
sirlish face, full Of pathetic endurance.
appealed to his heart irresistibly. and,
without q moments thought, he flung
his arms round her and kissed her.
All Sally's 10 years of life eliminated
In that first unwarrantable embrace. AS
her pretty, flushed face rested for a mo-
ment on his shoulder her heart whis-
pered, "Why not rest there forever"
Then she wrenched herself free. and her
blush ebbed away, leaving her as pale
as marble and as hard.
"You hight at least have spared me
this and left me some self respect" she
said, looking like "a young Joan of Arc.
He ought to have been abashed and
| humbled, but he wasn't.
"Sallyr' he whispered 80 tenderly
that she drew back again, mistrusting
herself and him. "Sally, I love you
you know 1 do" Sally tried hard to
keep back the flood of joy that welled
up from her heart into her eyes.
"Do men in your rank Of life act like
that and speak afterward?" Looking
down into the sweet depths Of her eyes,
be said:
ooh, my love, you are wasting mo.
ments that might be so sweet. We love
eaoh'- Ere he could finish Sally flashed
in:
"Who told you I loved you? Have ]
ever led you to think 1 loved your" He
gazed at her with such sweet, manly
assurance that she felt her anger melt
ing away.
"Sally, my darling, I see it in your
eyes-I hear it in your voice. Love has
given me insight"
"Of course you know it," And her
voice took those thrilling tones which
had moved his heart 80 when she sang.
81 dare say every one does. l have loved
you for years and shall love you always.
l am not ashamed to w it. 1t has been
the strength Of my life. If you had never
spoken, l should have gone on loving
you all the Same and gone down to my
grave single for your sake; but, oh, my
love, I shall never wed ou-ne be
with you"
Kenneth would once more have flung
his arms around her, but she composed
hnrcn1f Inv , .,rnnf -TD,E ,,,l r,,I.
"Wait just a moment, and I will tell
you all"
"You told me all when you said you
loved mo-"
"Not all. Let me speak once and for
ever. What l am you made me. All
have you gavo mo, and i'll return / mean
to guard your good name-to guard ii
from yourself and from me-" He inter.
rupted her with an impatient gesture,
but she persisted: "You know what ]
was when you found me. You think
you know all, but no one ever told you
that had been in prison for theft; that
l had my hair cut short, wore prison
dress and ate prison food, and'- Her
voice failed her, her face grew deadly
white, her hungry eyes searched his face
to see if he shrank from her. To her Joy,
the brightness of his eyes never clouded
for n moment. He took her hand, with
a sweet gesture of love and reverence,
and holding it steadfastly between his
own he spoke:
Dear, / know it-havc known it fol
years. Biddy came and told me long
ago.. And, knowing all, I still ask you
to be my wife"
Sa1ly's blood slowly came back to hel
pale cheeks, slowly flooded her fair face
with its tender rose. Slowly the sweet
light mingled with the tears in her eyes
and conquered them. 1t was SO doubly
sweet thas he should know all and yet
love on. Her joy at first was too great
for words. She moved q little closer tc
him; then with swift, sweet abandon.
ment she flung her arms round his neck
and drew his face down to hers.
"But, DEAR" she whispered, ''the
world will know" AS their lips met he
answered:
"You are all the world to me-"