Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-05-31
CHAPTER K.
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When Alan Stacey had once broken
the ice sufficiently to have told his love
to Mary Conway, he did not, by any
means, let the grass grow under his
feet Mary drew back little, partly
because the pleasure of being betrothed
to the man of her heart, the man of her
brightest and most fervent admiration,
was very great. 1t was natural enough.
Her first engagement had been dry as
dust business, an arrangement which
was altogether in the light Of bar
gain. There was no bargain between
her and Alan Stacey, only the sweet
and unspoken bargain of trust and
affection, mingled with the respect and
admiration which the one had for the
other. There was no question between
them as to whether he would give her
dress allowance or as to what house
keeping money she would have to spend;
there was no question as to whether
she would be able to do her duty by
him. Mo- they loved each other, and
that was enough for both.
"But," he urged, "there is no reason
why we should wait. We have nothing
to wait for. You have no relatives, and
mine do not interfere with me. As to
your vague and indefinite suggestion
about clothes-well, don't know much
about ladies dresses, but it seems to
me that you can get couple Of new
frocks in a week and that when we
come home again you can buy as many
garments as you find you will want
Don't, when we have both been lonely
and wretched apart-don't let our hap
piness wait for anything go paltry as
clcth Let us be married at once.
"But it seems so soon, said Mary.
"Not at all. We cannot possibly pull
it off under a fortnight. and we know
each other so WE'LL There is nothing
like working together for getting to
know somebody"
"But the story2" she urged. "We
must finish the story"
Alan Stacey looked grave for the first
time. eyes, 1 had forgotten the story.
Little woman, what business head
you havel I promised it for the end Of
the month, didn't II"
eyes. you did"
eyes, l should like to finish the story,
but perhaps" cheerfully, eff we were
to push on, we might be able to manage
It,"
"There is still half Of it to do"
"And sEall want you. can't let
you spend all your days at the old type
writer now. l wonder if I could work
with anybody else2'
"You are not going to try, said
Mary, speaking in decided tones for the
first time.
"Is there no way in which one could
ease you littlef''
"Oh, yes! Let me have good typlst
in the afternoon, and l can dictate the
work off very much more quickly than
can do it myself. But l don't see why
1 can't work just as usual. What differ
ence is there2 The fact that l know you
love me need not turn me lazy all at
once"
"No; nothing could do that. But l
shall want you more with me. You for
get that up to now I have done my
mornings work and have been free for
the rest of the day, and you, poor little
soul, have sat here tagging your heart
out as l dom mean to let you do when
we are married Of course would rath-
er work with you. because you are you'
and you know my thoughts almost as
they come You interpret me to perfec-
tion. But at the same time / shall want
more of your society than 1 have had IN
the past.
~ see no way" said Mary, "except-
ing, as l suggested. typist who will
work at my dictation.
Eventually she gave way and con-
sented to be married as soon as the
proper arrangements could be made. 1t
was all so different from her last mar
riage. Then, everything had-been ar