Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1902-05-01

sides, you know, you promised"
! tried to assume as unconcerned
manner as possible.
after what took place last night"
| said, with dignity, Il should hardly
feel justified in burdening you with my
society for a moment longer than is
absolutely necessary"
Dolly severed the stem Of La
France rose and added the huge pink
blossom to her basket. Then she said:
why, Jack, you surely know that
your presence is no burden to me.
Even when-when we were boy and
girl together and you used toto pull
my hair, I was always glad of your
company You see, | was such
lonely little girl And you were al
ways kind-for a boy"
/ ignored the doubtful compliment.
my dear Dolly" began briskly,
and then waited to see the effect of
my words. Dolly began to finger the
petals of the big pink rose. She said
nothing. so continued:
My dear Dolly. 1t must be appar-
ent to you that after what happened
last night our position shattered.
once and forever. 1t can never be the
same again"
Then what a pity you said what
you did" she cried; 'it was all your
fault. you know. 0, why did you do
it. Jack?"
Really. Dolly" | answered quite
irritably. II confess | am at loss to
understand how the blame can be
shifted to my shoulders. / merely told
you certain things that-that | could
not help telling you. And you answered
me with laugh. | think the blame
is all on your side"
She thought for moment and then
replied:
Yes, Jack. / know quite well that |
laughed But It all seemed to me so
funny. could not believe that you
were in earnest"
"A man is usually much in earnest
when he offers himself and his fortune
to a LADY," / exclaimed, sarcastically.
I'm a way-yes," returned Dolly.
with a quaint assumption of sageness,
but it seems to me little absurd
that he should expect to be taken seri-
ously-necessarily. You see, it is quite
possible that the lady may not care
about the fortune at all"
was exasperated.
Dolly" | cried, ut is perfectly
plain to me that you do not compre-
bend the meaning of the word love
Men do not ask women to marry them
simply because they have money
enough to keep them-at least,
man who loves a woman doesn't"
ended rather lamely Dolly looked
at me a little wstfully.
Perhaps you are right Jack" she
said, slowly. Perhaps | do not I'M
derstand love. But, then, love is a
difficult thing to understand. think"
20. Dolly, Dolly" l cried almost in
despair. ut is really so easy to love
Why will you not understand? Why do
you continue to disbelleve me? | have
loved you for years--can't you feel
that / love you, Dolly?"
Her lips began to culver.
at me appealingly. and then. but you
never told me that you loved me. How
could | possibly know?"
Il never told. But, Dolly. you must
have known. Why, | asked you to be
my wife," Dolly looked at me in a
curious manner.
Don't people sometimes do that
without loving?" she asked.
was at loss for a reply Dolly was
toying with the rose petals again.
II thought" she continued, that you
wanted a wife. and-well-I am
little pretty, you know. and"
caught her in my arms, and she
did not resist, held her from me and
looked searchingly into her eyes.
Dolly" cried do you or do you
not love me?"
20, Jack she answered, rive loved
you ever so long-almost as long as
can remember"
drew her to me and kissed her
not once but several times. The
basket of roses fell from her hand,
and the sweet blossoms were scat
tered on the garden path.
Then you will be my wife?" |
asked at last between the kisses.
Yes. Jack, of course, now that |
| know you love me. But please
please don't smother mel"