Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-04-14
CHAPTER VII.

This premature declaration of feel
ings which l had sworn to myself to
suppress was brought about partly by
the spring fever aforesaid, partly by q
youthful and eXcitable temperament
and partly by the encouraging words of
Mark Gerard that same afternoon.
Upon his own confession he had antici-
pated some such explosions; and L was
not the man to balk his fancy.
81 thoughts' my companion faltered,
''that you were in love with another
woman-the goddess
you are the goddess said, fcrvent-
lv. ."Aud L began to worship at your
shrine the very moment we met"
"Oh!"
''You seem surprised. If you had
fallen in love with me. Nancy, that
would indeed have been surprising; but
that I should fall in love with you is
the most natural thing in the world"
'You must fall out of it again. she
answered, gravely.
'Never!"
MIR. Livingston, I say you must.
Please don't be ridiculous"
81 can't help it." I replied. you
would make a craven image love-
sick"
"And we were such good friends
she murmured.
''I don't want to press you" con-
tinued
ST should hope not" she returned,
her absurd sense of the ludicrous up
permost, as usual. 'Mr. Livingston, I'll
try and forget this-this indiscretion.
I've no love to give you. It's better to
be frank, isn't it? Don't frown, and
don't sull1. You are such Lice boy"
"Boyi" 1 calculated. 81 am 26. Do
you know that Nalefns Corvus was con-
sui at %? Boy, indeed!"
you provoke me, Mr.. Livingston.
Let's suppose for an instant that I
could return this love of yours; are
you in position to support wife?''
81 swear l could support a DOZEN
upon the terms you mention. Your love
would spur me to Titanic Efforts
She laughed outright. And I lost my
temper.
eff you look at this from a dollars
and cents point of view. Miss Gerard, 1
have nothing more to say
'That is spoken like a man." she
said. mockingly. Truly. the fend of
mischief possessed her.
NdHcys CCIeOs CUT 10 the QUICK Dy
her scornful words. why are you so
cruel? Is mans love so small thing
that you can afford to fling it aside?'
Her mood suddenly changed, and,
hating, she confronted ME with flash
ing eyes.
ssFor your sake she said. with dig
nifty, 81 made light of your love. We
are here together. living in the same
house, meeting dozen times day. ]
did my best to patch up the wool of our
friendship, but you have chosen to
burst the stitches. tried to spare you
and man of tact would have appreci-
ated my effort. have no love to give
you, Mr.. Livingstone because-because
my life is already pledged to another
pity you from the bottom of my heart
Good night"
She walked away. leaving me abashed
and speeches.
HUGO" nurmured. softly. you are
FOOL
Having registered myself among the
vast majority of my fellows. trudget
moodily towards the island. My
thoughts followed Nancy. but my foot
steps pointed in the opposite direction
Ia fact which furnished me with meat
for reflection. Was I destined to love
this fair woman and leave her? Nor
ally and intellectually Nancy had be
come the magnet which swayed my fac
ulties; what if my wretched body were
constrained to bear me henceforwart
from-not fo-her?
Chewing this bitter cud, rapidly ap
nroached the island. Already I has
come to. the margin of the lake. En-