Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-02-14
BY FLORENCE WARDEN.

So ~. 70 everything
In my power, 10 make you happy"
stu sic c' IL, { under some spell,
quit ID I.reathing quickly. A
aori <, seemed to frame her face
and AS nj that moment more ex-
Gu! y .saetiful than that of any
woran Lee bad ever seen. After q
pause s. a. seconds Mason put out
his zig { and ald gently raised hers
10 LIS ~. l. NJ toadcr as the action
was, p"rnos tie qrick intelligence of
the love sirici.en girl detected in the
touch something which told her of the
difference between his feelings toward
her and hers toward him. However
that may be. after n lapse of another
moment she gave long sigh and then
drew away her hand sharply, with a
laugh which grated little on his ear.
Doctor" said she sharply. you are
very good. very good, and thank you.
But no. We won't spoil 1t. You are
my sweetheart" and again her voice
quivered on the word, while you stay
here, but when you go. and that will
be soon now. very soon, you and will
be both as free as air"
But II l don't want to be free,
Gwyn" persisted Mason with all
loverlike ardor.
The girl flashed upon him q proud,
searching lock.
But you do" cried she quickly.
There was moments silence. then
1t was she who spoke again:
I'm rot ungrateful, doctor. don't
deny that II was in your rank of life
that-that I'd give you different an.
swer"
but surely that is my business" in
terrupted Mason quickly. IF l, I'M
derstanding all the circumstances just
as well as you do
But doubt II you do" said she
quickly. 81 doubt II man. even a
clever man like you, can understand
and see it all as well ms even simple
sort of woman. Anyhow, I've made
up my mind, and beg you not to say
any more about it, because l don't
deny it's temptation for me-" She
tried to laugh Il little. But as it's a
temptation | don't mean to yield to,
and as | know what's best for me us
well as you, why, talking would only
make 1t worse for me to bear"
"But, Gwyn. | don't understand you
quite" She shook her head gently
and smiled. He went on, you are not
happy here, know"
She raised her hand quickly to stop
him, evidently fearing what he might
be going to say.
II am not very happy" said she. 81
don't deny that. But my going away
wouldn't make me any happier.
should always be worrying about those
I had left
"And you don't think you would be
happy enough as my wife to forget
your worriesY'
After a short pause she answered In
low voice:
"No. Because feel the differences
between you and me and between my
friends and my ways and yours more
than you can do just now. You don't
see me with open eyes just yet, sir, be-
cause Of all the circumstances of your
boclLS uESt. lou Cttl ste luuI i LII
only just farmers daughter, with
the ways of my own class, which are
not the ways of yours. don't know
whether could ever do right in new
life, and l know you'd have to go
through deal on my account at first.
oh, know it; l know It! And SO, II
you please, sir, We'll say no more about
Il, but stick to our bargain. And you're
my sweetheart flushed as she
uttered the Worthwhile you're here,
but you're free and I'm free as soon
as you reach the bottom of the hill"
And with these words, with pretty
glow in her proud face, she left him
abruptly, going out through the wash
house before he could stop her.
Then he was. free! And she was free!
He stretched his arms and prepared to
60 out to his work, when he was star
tied by slight noise in the clubhouse,
which betrayed that there had been
listener to their conversation.
He was on the alert in q moment, for
he knew that there was new danger
to himself in the possibility Of their
compact becoming known.
Who was the eavesdropper?