Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-02-01
She looked quietly at him. He was
trying to turn her own weapons against

She looked quietly at him. He was
trying to turn her own weapons against
her. .s s..
"You are acting foolishly, Lyndall,"
he said, suddenly changing his manner
and speaking earnestly, most foolish
~. You are acting like little child.
am surprised at you. 1t is all very well
to have ideals and theories, but you
know as well rs any one can that they
must not be carried into the practical
world. ! love you. do not pretend
that 1t is in any high, superhuman
sense. do not say that should like
you as well if you were ugly and de-
formed, or that l should continue to
prize you whatever your treatment of
me might be, or to love you though you
were a spirit without any body at all.
That is sentimentality for beardless
boys. Every one not a mere child land
you are not a child, except In years.
knows what love between man and a
woman means. love you with that
love. l should not have believed It pos
sible that could have brought myself
twice to ask Of any woman to be my
wife. more especially one without
wealth, without position and Who
Eyes; so on. Do not grow sorry for
me. Say what you were going to-
who has put herself into my power
and who has lost the right of sAeeting
me on equal terms Say what you
think. AT least we two may speak
the truth to one another"
Then she added. after pause:
Il believe you do love me, as much as
you possibly could love anything. and
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, IL
had required your generosity, it would
not have been shown me. If, when
got your letter a month ago. limiting at
your willingness to marry me. l had at
once written, imploring you to come
you would have read the letter Poor
little devil! you would have said and
tore 1t Up. The next week you would
have sailed for Europe and have sent
me a check for ESQ. which l would
have thrown in the fire, and l would
have heard no more Of YOU" The
stranger smiled. But because l 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 q child's love
for butterflies. You follow till you
have the thing and break it. If you
have broken one wing and the thing
flies still. then you love it more than
ever and follow till you break both.
Then YOU are satisfied when it lies
stir on tile ground - & 417@-;s II
YOU are profoundly wise in the
ways Of the world. You have seen far
into life" he snid.
He might as well have sneered at the
freight.
II 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 strong inclination to stoop
down and kiss the little lips that defied
him. but lie 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 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 it, and l have
come"
II said. Come If you WISH II you
agree to it, well; if not, marry on
Monday"
"Well"
She was still looking beyond him at
the are.
Il cannot marry you" she said slow
~. because cannot be tied; but. IL
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. will not 60 down coun-
try" she added. II 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"
ooh. 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 me and go to another"
She shook her head without looking
at him.
mo; life is too long. But l will go
with you"
"Wheny'
Tomorrow. have told them that
before daylight go to the next farm.
will write from the town and tell
them the facts. 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 it is necessary for