Mower County transcript., 1903-01-07

= ."Where is Francisw Mrs. Penrose
asked.
"He is not coming back tonight" re-
piled Dorothy softly, and then for the
first time she saw Malcom Kirk stand.
ing there by the fireplace. Fl Il i Z >'~@'
I She took an eager step toward him
and then suddenly stopped, while her
face gglowed rosy red in the candle,
light. AS for Malcom Kirk, he stood
very erect and still, but out of his
eyes shone the lovers look as he faced
the woman Of his hearts longing. He
did not try to conceal it, and Dor
othy knew as well as If he had spoken
it aloud that he said, II love you, Dor
othy Gilbert, and cannot do my life
work best without you.'' Mrs. Penrose
saw that look also and respected it.
The servant entered and announced
that tea was ready, and Malcom Kirk
found himself shaking hands with Dor
7othy and saying some very common
thing about being glad to meetsher.. "A
few minutes later he found himself at
the table with Dorothy and her aunt.
He ate and talked at first with a re-
pressed excitement that gradually be-
came a source of eloquent conversa-
ton. No one asked any more questions
about Francis Raleigh. 1t is certain
that Mrs. Penrose and Malcom Kirk
understood that he had pleaded his suit
again with Dorothy and had again
been unsuccessful.
GShn ho Cp1x1nv, !, i'm 1ic - sol ~
Malcom Kirk to himself, and there
was the first positive hope in his heart
that he had dared to feel. He had new
er appeared to such good advantage.
Mrs. Penrose, experienced as she was
in the ways of society and familiar
with some of the most brilliant men
| and women, felt a positive charm in
Kinks voice and manner. His awk-
wardness for awhile was subordinate
to his higher gifts.
Mr.. Penrose was in New York on
| business. Malcom Kirk learned after.
ward some things in his history and
| why John Gilbert had been allowed to
| meet his great financial losses without
help from his own sister, who to q
large extent had been powerless to per-
suade her husband to come to her
brothers aid. But she was absorbed
tonight in the thought of Dorothy. He
knew that crisis in his life had come.
After tea they went into the recep-
tion room again. Mrs. Penrose staid
| for half an hour and then suddenly
went out, and Dorothy and Malcolm
Kirk were left alone. '&E II - a.
He was fully aware that the whole
future Of his life work would be shap
ed by the events Of the next few min.
utes, but he had never felt more 8
Christian than now. There was posi-
tive religious excitement of the high
est, spurest, noblest character in all the
thought Of his love for Dorothy. There
always had BEEN He felt that it was
no cheap or silly or shallow sentimen,
that moved him to think Of her as OF
no other being in. the world. There
had not been a night Of his life since
he began to love her when he had fail
ed to speak her nameSin aAprayer. Ell
knew that his Christian: faith wa
sanctified and beautifed by thisShu
man love. = @-
| He rose and went over near her. II,
had the miniature in his hand. Whel
he spoke, IT wasssin. great simplicity
but In great sdirectness. .s.ss.s .ss.&ls u
I Is You know what I have come for
i You know that love you wholly
/. You know what my life will be. 70,
know that I am poor. Dorothy, cal
|you share such q life with me? Mus
4 I give this back, or may,sI keep It al
ways? 5. Il. {. .s HI ,s
She was sitting with her face partl
IN shadow, and she slowly rose an,
turned and faced him. Like all girl
I who dream Sof lovers, she had he
4 dreams, her ideals, her imaginings
q She looked up at him now, and til
]. blood rushed impe petuously through hin
Z as he saw the ginning Of her answer
lShe bad learned love him durin,