Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1900-05-03

W AA
'Oh becauSe-bccause you're so Out
et, and steady. and thoughtful 1
know you'd never worry your wife by
being selfish, and cross. and CRANKY
Ike Sore men DO. Dear me"-Fanny
sLoOk her head as the weighty subject
struck her ia It's full force-.I declare.
| don't see how some women put NJ
with their husbands at ALL
Perhaps they love them.'' suggested
Laurence. Love teaches patience.
YOU know
ut wousdn't teach me patience an.
SwerCd Fannie. giving her sailor hat
an aggressive little twitch. | couldn't
put UP with a cross. cranky. worrying
maE-not If l lived him TO distrac.
ton.
But II you loved him. he would not
seem cross. cranky and Worrying an
swered Laurence. with his quiet smile.
I'D have eyes and ears said Fan.
Me, quite Indignantly. Il could see and
hear what he did and what he said.
Love would never make me blind
Il think IL would answered T4au-
renee. locking tenGerly at the sweet
young face that was so fresh and child
like in ITS Innocence. Love makes all
Of us-the wisest and most far-seeing-
bind rs we'll as deaf. We will not see
We viii not hear"
''Ygu seem % know all about IL. Do
ycu speak from experienced? asked
Fannie. archly.
Yes was tide reply, in a low ton
that made FanTle rep-ss. OF her
t~houghtiess question. II do speak from
experience. Would you Ike TO hear
my love story. Fannieg'
oh. dear. no. That IS. 1 didn't
mean
She stopped. blushing and embar-
rassed-she who could support Fent-
oa's daring compliments with such
smiling equanimity. who could laugh
at FeEton's most ardent vows.
Il Know that you didn't mean TO ask
my confidence, he answers, sadly;
nevertheless. l give 1T 10 you freely.
l do loye, have loved for years. n
so bright, 60 gay. so beautiful, thar il
would be folly TO ask her 10 step from
her own sunny sphere and share my
humble lot
Why. you are not poor. Laurence
she said. moved by 4 sweet, yomanly
sympathy ut the brave. pathetic resi-
nation Of his Your father is
quite well of, l thought"
Aye. well OFF. was his answer.
"Eut only while he lives will l profit
by his assistance, My education is all
| ever viii accept from my father. l
am . man, and able TO work for my
self. All that my father has he. by my
own request. viii leave 10 my sister,
for women are weak. and should be in
dependent OF a world that yields uc-
cess only TO the strong. / have my
own battle 10 win. my own way 10
work. | can do it and l will
Ard won't shes" Fannie looked uY
into the handsome face of the man be-
side her with earnest. friendly inter-
e~st-"won't. the lady wait for you,
Laurence: Ii Is so good and generous
Of ven { feel this way toward Marian.
| think she-the Young lady. i mean
would surely love you better for it."
Love me hettery' he echoed. bitter
". She Goes not love me at all. l
an ro,tins-nothing 10 her!
You don't know. said Fannie. en-
cOl n ginciy. Il am sure ii she knew
hat q fine fellow you are she couldn't
help loving you 4 little. Laurence.
"A littl-oriy a little: that is all /
ask. he answered, eagerly. If she
would eniy love me 4 little"
Chs are 50 queer. You know said
tae pretty little mentor, conidentisily.
~Yru don't understand her. perhaps.
Laurence, Perhaps yoa're too-roo
r.0deSC anl retiring You mustn't be
af-aii oihsr. Just speak right out, and
tel her That FOR love her with all your
he1rt. and that you viii work for her.
sEd win her. if she viii wait long
enccgh fer you: and then-and then,
even il she says no NJ first. don't take
II. fer you knew. Laurence. continued
tie little trai;ress to her sex. girls al
Ways say no NJ first. even II they're
dying 10 say yes
Fannie, Flnnier-the girl Startea
Ike n frightened fawn at the rew ten
desRess II her companions voice. the
raw light in his eye-"are you only
r.addening ne by your words. or are
.cu. Indeed, blind, blind TO the love
that has worshi2ed ycu since you were
4 laughing. g-igh eyed child. the sun
beam. the giadress. the beauty OF my
lie. even then-even them And now
now take yen az your words. I
cone 10 o with my future, OF s,rug-
Gle. priyatlor, yet OF firal-aye. speedy
success. | say to you. my darling. my
darling, ! love you with all my
strength, the feryor. the endurance OF n
heart that has loved but once. and can
never love again. l love you, Can you
love me a little, Fannie-only Il very
llt'le?"
Il" Fannie shrank back, ana
covered her face with her hands. Not
me. Laurence. Oh you didn't mean
Eee oh. | am so sorry-so very sorry.
| didn't know I Didn't think, Ike
o so much, Laurence. IL respect
Won so much"
"Rut yCu don't love me. | under.
stand YOU" he answered. bitterly. Il
expected rs much. Far ME. | am not
disappointed, dear, only-only-
He paused: his deep voice shook ST.
that he could say no more: the strong
al had been tried even beyond his
strength.
Il am so Sorry repeated Fannie. as
penitently as a child who had inst
broken 4 costly vase. and was survey.
ing the wreck dolefuly-'I am SO sor-
nv. Laurence! l wouldn't have had
this happen for the world. And / do
I 1a~- EanniN u.oS d rnx, lv -