Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1901-08-08
Maid of the West" "Fergy the Guide" THE
Dance" etc.

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and have known for some time"
Il know nothing about it, she re-
piled coldly and moving on. Il do not
care to"
He was by her side moving evenly
with her and broke in smoothly: 1T
is beautiful night, don't you think
What is it that Manfred says: ON
such night, when | was wandering |
stood upon the Coliseums hoary wall,
mid the chief relics OF almighty Rome
| The Coliseum by moonlight is won
| derful spectacle, but like it best when
only the stars are shining. 1t looms
larger so and there is even more OF
mystery to it,"
you told me once that You do not
| like moonlight she said THAT
seems curious. To me ii is a beauti-
full time. 1t is lucky that your aver
sion docs not extend also to daylight"
ut doa.," he replied shortly. much
of our time is passing sunlight. particu-
larly IN this country where everything
fol twelve hours out of the twenty
four is in glare. but would make it
all starlight if | could. You may not
have noticed it. but see as we'll now
do at iiopI. II 10 lut w SUM- UttulldT
expansion Of the retina My mother
was so.
She looked at him to di"cover wheth-
er by any possibility he was testing,
though she had never known him to
jest, and saw even in the half light.
| that his eyes were larger and seemed
all black. with nothing of the white
visible. 1t gave her an eerie feeling
| and she drew away from him involun-
tariy.
Il have found it a valuable faculty in
scouting in past times" he went on.
Il used in the course of work to do a
good deal Of night-riding"
This was literally his first reference
to his past life and she listened. ex-
I pecting more but he broke off with:
You have been with us for some
weeks Miss English2 DO you like the
country anC the life?"
II do" she answered unreservedly
/ and unguardedly, Il am charmed With
| both"
Il am glad to hear you say that
was the reply. Because intended tc
! ask you to remain here"
1t had come suddenly. and appar-
emily just when they were farthest
| from the test. that she stopped still and
/ stammered
IL don't-don't understand" She
realized moment later that this was
| disti. city weak but the words were
said.
II ask you now"
Maude stood before her. erect. his
head thrown slightly back. his face
pale, his lips compressed. She felt
rather than saw ven then that he was
between her and the ranche-house SC
that she could not leave him abruptly
| This tended to anger her She thought
rapidly. This was a proposal OF mar
riage; the man was asking her to be
his wife. He was a gentleman born
assuredly, still on the right side Of
forty, cultured, experienced He was
the friend and associate of other gen
tlemen. so that there could be moth.
ing radically wrong with him. Before
her stretched prospect of long years
in the school-room, the necessity oi
! earning her bread. or of walking alone
through the world under the impalpa-
BILE shadow which clings about every
woman devoid of male protection. u
she did not love him There was sc
little doubt of it tha' she had never
asked herself the question. He was
neither especially attractive nor re-
pellant to her. She felt that he would
corapel the respect of any woman, but
respect Is one thing and love Is an
other She had seen loveless unions
and their desperate results and sh,
had no mind to make one. Al the same
time he was doing her the highest
honor that man can pay. He was will
ing to take her absolutely on trust. i
she knew nothing of his past he knew
nothing of hers. nor had he shown any
disposition TO inquire. Frying was no
part of Maude's nature There wa,
a certain recklesness in him that show
ed sometimes under the iron calm o.
his manner He was entitled to con
sideration. There could be no doubt o
that. either All of this flashed through
her brain in the FIVE seconds which
interviewed between his pr ,posal ant
her reply. Still he stood b,tween hei
and the house and this was irritating
so she said clearly and ici'y:
II am not going TO seek protection
Hr Maude. J have no thought of fee
ing TO Mrs Glynn."
He bit his lin. but moved instantly
TO one side. Then she half-turncd
faced him and went or.
This is my first proposal. an
tweh.v-two years old but you are the
only nan who has asked me 10 marry
him appreciate the honor you do me
believe me | appreciate the fact that
not knowing or asking who or what
am. you have offered 10 make me your
wife, to place your name IN my keep
ing I am flatt.red by this ! am fiat
tered further by the fact that the Of
fer comes from one who has seen The
world and many worlen. Still. | car
not answer YOU Yes While you Offer
me much. you are asking much. II Il
all OF my future life you require. The
woman who varies must be prepared
to lose her old self and find a new set
that will be happier and better. This Il
sometimes done. but not always ! re
spect you'll may even say that Ike
you-5ut liking is not love and
His face had grown grayer as SHE
proceeded. His ewes were fixed in
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