The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-11-05

while to stay here and work. Why
should not II"
The momentary CLEAN in his eyes
died out, and again he said coldly:
This work was clearly mine. I am
needed here"
YES, yes" she cried, her voice full
of pain. you are needed, but there is
no need Of me-"
"Stop! Stopr he said sharply. "You
must not say So"
'I will say it, must say itv' she
cried, her voice vibrating with the in.
tensity Of her feeling. 81 know you dc
not need me. You have your work
your miners, your plans. You need nc
one. You are strong. But" and he1
voice rose to a cry, II am not strong
by myself. You have made me strong
I came here foolish girl, foolish and
selfish and narrow. God sent me grief
Three years ago my heart died. Now
I am living again. am 4 woman now,
for me. Your life, your words, your
self-you have shown me q better, q
higher, life than I had ever known be-
fore, and now you send me away"
She paused abruptly.
Blind, stupid foolr' said to myself.
He held himself resolutely in hand,
answering carefully, but his voice had
lost its coldness and was sweet and
kind.
"Have 1 done this for you? Then
surely God has been good to me. And
you have helped me more than any
words could tell you"
"Helped"' she repeated scornfully.
"Yes, helped" he answered, wonder
ing at her scorn.
You can do without my help" she
went on. You make people help you.
You will get many to help you. But I
need help too"
She was standing before him with
her hands tightly clasped. Her face
was pale, and her eyes were deeper
than ever. He sat looking up at her
in a kind Of maze as she poured oct
her words hot and fast.
Il an not thinking Of you" His cold
ness had hurt her deeply. 'I am self
ish. I am thinking Of myself. How
shall do? I have grown to depend on
you, to look to you. 1t is nothing to
ro,t +bo+ ro I,1+ To MOI
She did not dare to finish.
By this time Craig was standing be-
fore her, his face deathly pale. When
she came to the end Of her words, he
said in 4 voice low, sweet and thrilling
with emotion:
"Ah, if you only knew! Do not make
me forget myself. You do not guess
what you are doing"
What am I doing? What is there to
know but that you tell me easily to
go?
She was struggling with the tears
she was too proud to let him see.
He put his hands resolutely behind
him, looking at her as if studying her
face for the first time. Under his
searching look she dropped her eyes,
and the warm color came slowly up in
to her neck and face. Then, as if with
O. sudden resolve, she lifted her eyes to
his and looked back at him unfinch-
ingly.
He started, surprised, drew slowly
near, put his hands upon her shoul-
ders, surprise giving place to wild JOY.
She never moved her eyes. They drew
him toward her. BE took her face be-
tween his hands, smiled into her eyes,
kissed her lips. She did not move.
He stood back from her, threw up his
head and laughed aloud. She came to
him, put her head upon his breast and,
lifting up her face, said, kiss me-"
he put his arms about her, bent down
and kissed her lips again and then rev.
erently her brow. Then, putting her
back from him, but still holding both
her hands, he cried:
"No, you shall not go! I shall never
let you go!"
She gave little sigh Of content and,
smiling at him, said:
81 can go now" But even as she
spoke the flush died from her face, and
she shuddered.
"Neverw he almost shouted. "Noth-
ing shall take you away. We shall
ho,o 4ora+barD
"Ah, if we could. if we only could!"
she said piteously..
"Why not? he demanded fercely.
'You will send me away. You will
say it is right for me to 60" she re-
piled sadly.
do we not love each other? was
his impatient answer.
"Ah, yes, my love-" she said, 'sbut
love is not all"
"Now cried Craig. "But love is the
best.''
YES" she said sadly; 'love is the
best, and it is for loves sake we will
do the best"
There is no better work than here.
Surely this is best.' And he pictured
his plans before her.
She listened eagerly.
"Oh, if it should be right" she crieu>
II will do what you say! You are
good; you are wise. You shall tell