The Lamar register., 1900-08-22
Doe Sr1H/ Fascinating
- Romance
" CIV ~ Alan Adai.-.

| OF course she had loved him! What
woman would not have loved Alan
Mackenzie?
He said nothing. but she could see
his lips quivering. That troubled her.
She felt that he would say no more,
but that the first words must come
from her. He had stated his case; he
had pleaded with her. II was for her
to say Yes" or No" Only he had
| told her the whole truth. Some men
would have said less; but then she
loved him for that very truthfulness.
which would hide nothing from her.
Il wish you had not told me-. she
said. For a moment she thought that
this really was so. and that she would
rather not have known: 1t was only
momentary. however.
Would you rather not have
reproachfuIIy. Joyce. | hate having
to give you this pain: but have al
ways thought that the very essence of
married happiness lay in the fact that
husband and wife had no secrets from
each other"
Ind you tell her everything"
asked Joyce. woman-like.
mo. dearest God forbid that
should wish to deprecate the girl who
loved me 40 well: but she was not
your equal. She was simply a pure.
sweet, loving woman; but she would
not have understood She had pretty
ways OF making house homelike and
charming; but she had but very little
education | could not have told her
everything, Joyce. you know all about
our brief married life now. l dHn't
| believe that you--I don't believe that
you would be jealous OF the dead W.
man. Now tell me straight out II YOU
will make me happy. don't thinI.
/ you know or can guess whht you are
to me. How my whole life and soul
are bound up In you. how empty my
| life would be without you. | think II
you understood that you would forget
all about the story I have told you.
and give yourself to me. to hold and
to keep as the dearest thing In the
world"
The tears were standing in his eyes.
J he was so much In earnest II seemed
to him as II the making or the mar
ring OF his life was in this slender
girls hands: and she was moved. too.
"of course l mind. dearest" she said.
IF I did not mind so much | should
not love you 80 much. Just think
how would you like Il IL some other
man had had my first kiss, my nrst
words OF love''
Il should not like it at all: should
hate il. Joyce" he said. frankly. Il
knew you would. should have asked
you to marry me year ago IL I had
not had this past behind me. have
loved you well enough ali the time.
I II is only now that l have been pre-
sumptuous enough to think that you
( love me a little that have spoken;
and If you do truly love me, Joyce,
you will only be sorry for all that /
have suffered In the past"
Joyce was not an ungenerous girl,
and though there was certain sting
In the fact that Alan had suffered
through another woman. yet she could
| feel II in her heart to pity the girl
who had only been Alan's wife for
four months. and who had died in so
tragic a manner. She rose. shall we
20 In to the others. Alan" she said.
sottly.
But he caught her hand. Not be-
fore l have had my answer. Joyce.
oh. no! not before I have had my an
swer, Don't he cruel. darling! Put
me out OF paint"
Dearest" she said. you know
your answer. You know that ! love
you. and that would never deny my
love This unhappy story OF yours
has been surprise to me. and little
shock; but Il does not really make any
difference. does it. when two people
love each other?"
Joyce" he cried-there was the
purest Joy in his tone-"Joycs. you
have made messo happy that 1 have
no words to express my happiness.
And you will not think OF this again
II will not be bar between US! 1t
only comes to me now and again,
when have thought that you would
not like it. And now. Joyce. you are
cheating me of my kiss OF betrothal.
Come behind this rock" "..a=.
And as Joyce was just sweet, low
ing girl. who had promised herself to
the man she loved, she made no de-
mur, but gave him his kiss; and they