Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1902-06-21
DOWN BLYTHE
90 RIG GRANDE
II. .CANFIELD.


me. l appreciate the fact that not know
ing or asking who or what / am, you
have offered TO make me your wife, 10
place youI name in my keeping. l am
fiattered by this. | am fattered further
by the fact that the offer comes from one
who has seen the world and many women.
Still, l cannot answer you Yes. While
you offer me much, you are asking much.
1t is az of my future life you require.
The woman who marries must be pre-
pared to lose her old self and find new
self that will be happier and better. This
is sometimes done, but not always. / re-
spect you'll may even say that l like
you-but liking is not love and"
His face had grown grayer as she pro-
ceeded. His eyes We're fixed intently up
on her face as if he would read every
thought Theron. Once or twice he had
started to speak and checked himself.
Now, as he saw the words shaping them
selves which would deny him that which
he craved, the pent-up passion in him
broke loose. He seized her hand rough
~, tiercely. and try as she might she
could not diSengage it. lie spoke rapidly
and hoarsely:
wait. Do not say that which you may
repent and which win make my life black.
When first | saw you something new and
strong came from you TO me and entered
into me and gripped my soul. You are
all earth and the hereafter to me! Sun,
moon, stars the sea and winds, hope. de-
sire. ambition, strength Of body and will.
life itself are in you. In all past years
have dreamed of woman. On Asian
ST FIJI.
ests. on the bosoms of broad rivers. ON
windbeaten seas, in the clamor and
clangor of huge cities on peaceful Eng
fish country-sides, in noon hours and
night hours she has como to ME and
know now that the woman is you. For
this / have waited. Other men have
fought for riches, or celebrity, or for the
joy of fighting. l have striven only that
| might win TO the place where you were
standing and waiting. have come; you
have come. Some invisible hand has
directed our steps. / know not whether
this hand is benign or hateful. but it has
done its work. Why else should | be
here and you here? Lois, ! love you.
You are more beautiful than any vision
that ever visited the aching eyeballs Of
a dying thinner of starved body and
throbbing brain. Do not answer me to-
night. | have been hurried; l should
have waited; but l could not wait long
err. You are surrounded by men young
er than /; more hght-hearted; more suit
ed to you in every way. 1t seemed to
me that / must speak now, or forfeit my
chance of happiness. Give me my an
swer tomorrow, or the day after to-
morrow, or a week from tomorrow.
can wait; | will be patient; will choke
back fear. Lois.'
His voice had died almost to sound
lessness. His stern face was softened
in his passionate pleading. He breathed
thickly and quickly. He had dropped
her hand and now her fingers were In
terlaced before her. To her clear cheeks
warm blush had risen. Her bosom
rose and fell rapidly Her limbs were
dangerous, so that she swayed slightly
1t was sweet to be wooed so, sweet to
know that she was all in all to one older,
wiser, stronger than she. The tremen-
dous force and earnestness of him had
its effect upon her. Yet through it all
ran the constant thought; Il do not love
him. cannot love him; am afraid that
| fear him, but l have for him no softer
feeling; l do not even want him for my
friend; cannot give him the answer he
wishes, yet he is a brave, strong man
and some woman must have loved him
well; it is not to be: it shall not be-"
She spoke slowly, hesitatingly, her deep
voice expressing kindness, regret posi-
bly,. but nothing warmer
Il will do as you wish, Mr.. Maude.
will give You your answer tomorrow l
will consider carefully all that you have
said. | do you the justice to believe that
you are sincere That weighs with me.
If. however, that answer is not what YOU
WISH remember that a girls heart is not
her own to give or 10 take away. We
do not direct or govern these things. |
tell you frankly that | have never seen
the man 10 whom | would surrender my
life. 1t may perhaps be your due to
know that | have more interest in you
than in any other, but / do not love you.
| know that | am far from loving you.
| wish to return now
He said not another word, but fell in
by her side and walked slowly toward
the house. His face again was steeled
against the outward showing of emotion.
AS they reached the steps. he paused.
whispered. Tomorrow. then bowed
gravely, and turned toward the bachel-
ors' quarters.
Lois, feeling thoroughly unstrung AMI
much troubled by thought Of the task
which lay before her, entered the hall.
There were lights in the drawing room,
but no sound of conversation. Evidently
the happy family had retired. She was
surprised therefore when she heard her
name called and a moment after Allyn
appeared in the doorway. She stood with
the light falling full upon her as he said:
Il have missed you and supposed you
were walking with Maude. / have some
thing TO say to you; have felt that
ought to say it for some days"
He looked at her curiously as he spoke
and then directed his glance past her to-
ward the night which showed through the
narrow windows on each side of the hall
door. Pondering TO herself, Lois men
tally asked: Can this be another pro-
posal? am not equal to two in a night"
and a smile fickered upon her lips. A
look into his frank blue eyes, however.
treasured her. Plainly he wes earnest