Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1900-06-21

me Eohl " 9Ou NtAN ECAL4h "
who has put herself into my power
and who has lost the right of meeting
me on equal terms Say what you
think At least we two may speak
the truth to one another"
Then she added after q pause:
al believe you do love me, as much as
you possibly could love anything, and
l believe that when you ask me to
marry you you are performing the
most generous act you ever have per
formed In the course OF your life or
ever will. but. at the same time, II |
had required your generosity, 1t would
not haye been shown me. II. when |
got your letter n month ago, limiting ut
your willingness to marry me. | had at
once written. imploring you TO come,
you would have read the letter. Poor
little devilr you would have said and
tore II up. The next week you would
have sailed for Europe and have sent
me n check for f150. which | would
have thrown in the fire, and | would
have heard no more of you" The
stranger smiled. But because | de-
clined your proposal. and wrote that In
three weeks should be married to an-
other, then what you call love woke
up. Your mans love Is a child's love
for butterflies. You follow till you
have the thing and break It II you
have broken one wing and the thing
flies still, then you love 1t more than
ever and follow till you break both.
Then you are satisfied when II lies
still on the ground"
"You are profoundly wise in the
ways of the world. You have seen far
into life" he said.
He might as well have sneered at the
| 6lelight.
81 have seen enough to tell me that
you love me because you cannot bear
| to be resisted and want to master me.
You liked me at first because treated
you and all men with Indifference. You
resolved to have me because seemed
unattainable That is all your love
means"
He felt n strong inclination to stoop
down and kiss the little lips that defied
him, but he restrained himself. He
| said quietly. And you loved me-
Because you are strong. You are
the first man | ever was afraid of.
And"-a dreamy look came into her
face-"because l like to experience,
like to try You don't understand
that"
He smiled.
well, since you will not marry me,
may inquire what your intentions
are. the plan you wrote Of? You asked
me to come and hear 1t, and | have
come"
Il said, Come If you wish If you
agree to it. well; If not, l marry on
Monday"
"Well."
She was still looking beyond him at
the fire.
al cannot marry you" she said slow
ly, because | cannot be tied; but, If
you wish, you may take me away
with you and take care of me. Then
when we do not love any more we can
say goodby. l will not go down coun-
try" she added. 81 will not go to Eu-
rope. You must take me to the Trans
vaal. That is out Of the world. People
we meet there we need not see again
In our future lives.
"Oh, my darling" he said, bending
tenderly and holding his hand out to
her, "why Will you not give yourself
entirely to me? One day you will de-
sert nae and go to another"
She shook her head without looking
at him.
mo; life is too long. But 1 will go
with you"
"WhenT'
Tomorrow. | have told them that
before daylight go to the next farm.
| will write from the town and tell
them the facts. l do not want them
to trouble me. | want to shake myself
free of these old surroundings; | want
them to lose sight of me. You can
understand that 1t is necessary for
me-"
He seemed lost in consideration.
Then he said:
"It is better to have you on those
conditions than not at all. If you will
have It, let 1t be So"
He sat looking at her. On her face
was the weary look that rested there
so often now when she sat alone. Two
months had not passed since they part
ed, but the time had set It's mark on
her. He looked at her carefully, from
the brown, smooth forehead to the lit
tie, crossed feet on the floor A worn
look had grown over the little face, and
It made its charm for him stronger,
for pain and time, which trace deep
lines and write n story on human
face. have n strangely different effect
oil one face and another. The face
that Is only fair, even very fair, they
mar and flaw, but to the face whose
beauty Is the harmony between that
which speaks from within and the
form through which 1t speaks power Is
added by all that causes the outer man
to bear mere deeply the impress Of the
inner The pretty woman fades with
the roses on her cheeks and the girl
hood that lasts an hour The beautiful
woman finds her fullness of bloom
only when past has written itself on
her, and her power is then most ire
sistible when 1t seems going.
From under their half closed lids the
keen eyes looked down at her. Her
shoulders were bent. For n moment
the little figure had forgotten its queen
ly bearing and dropped wearlly. The
wide dark eyes watched the fire very
softly.
1t certainly was not In her power to
resist him nor any strength In her that
made his own at that moment grow
soft as he looked at her.
He touched one little hand that rest
ed on her knee.
Poor little thingp he said you
are only child"
She did not draw her hand away
from his and looked up at him.
You are very tiredT
"Yes"
She looked into his eyes as n little
child might whom long days play
had saddcned.
He lifted her gently up and sat her
Oh his knee.
"Poor little thing" he said.
She turned her face to his shoulder
and buried It against his neck. He
wound his strong arm about her and
held her close to him. When she had
sat for long while, he drew with his
hand the face down and held It against
his arm. He kissed it and then put it
back In its old resting place.