The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-06-05

~ ~
Come: over here" He led her. unresist-
ing. around to the couch at the other side
of the table.
sit here. and We'll talk 1t over sensibly,
before you get ready"
When he released her. she started
quickly toward the door that led into the
hail.
Don't do that-please don't be fool
ish.'
He locked the door, and put the key in
his pocket. Then he went over to the big
folding doors, and satisfied himself they
We're locked from the other side. He went
| back and stood in front of her. She had
| watched him with dumb terror in her face.
Now we can talk-but there isn't much
to be said. How soon can you be ready?"
You are crazy!'
| ''Possibly-believe what you like
| How did you ever dare? o, how aw-
| ful!"
IF you haven't passed that stage, I'll
hold you again.
mo, no-please don't-please stand up
again. Sit over there--I can think better"
Think quickly. This is Saturday. and
tomorrow is their busy day. They may
not sit up late tonight"
| She arose with a little shrug of despera-
ton that proclaimed her to be in the
power Of mad man. She looked at her
face In the oval mirror, wiping her eyes
and making little passes and pats at her
| disordered hair. He went over to her.
| mo, no-please go over there again.
Sit down moment---let me think. I'll
talk to you presently"
There was silence for five minutes. He
watched her, while she narrowed her eyes
in deep thought.
/ Then he looked at his watch.
II can give you an hour If you've any
/ thing to say before it's done-not longer"
/ She drew a long breath.
| Mr.. Bines. are you mad? Can't you
be rationale"
II haven't been irrational, I give you
my word, not once since I came here
| Ele looked at her steadily. All at once
he saw her face go crimson. She turned
her eyes from his with an effort.
I'm going. back to Montana in the
morning. l want you to marry me to-
night won't even wait one more day
one more hour. I know it's a thing you
never dreamt of-marrying a poor man.
You'll look at it as the most disgraceful
act Of folly you could possibly commit,
and so will every one else nere-but you'll
do it. Tomorrow at this time you'll be
halfway to Chicago with me-"
! "Mr. Bines-I'm perfectly reasonable
and serious-I mean it-are you quite
sure you didn't lose your wits when you
lost your money!"
1T may be considered a witless thing
i to marry a girl who would marry for money
but never mind that-Im used to talk
ing chances .fr-4
She glanced up at him. curiously.
You know I'm to marry Mr.. Shepler
the tenth Of next month"
y"Yeur grammar Is faulty-tense is wrong
you should say was to have married
Mr.. shepler.' I'm fastidious about those
little things, confess"
| How can you jest?"
az can't. Don't think this is any joke.
He'll find OUT
.'who will find out-what, pray?"
HE will. He's already said he was
afraid there might have been some non
sense between you and me, because we
talked that evening at the Oldakers'. He
told my grandfather he wasn't at all sure
Of you until that day lost my money"
80, see-and of course you'd like your
revenge-carrying me off from him just
to hurt him." p.
IF you say that TIL hold you in my
arms again. He started toward her.
Eve loved you so, tell you-all the
time-all the time"
COR perhaps it's a brutal revenge on
me-after thinking I'd only marry for
money"
I've loved you always, tell YOU"
He came up to her, more gently now,
. and took up her hand to kiss it. He saw
the ring.
'"Take his ring off,
She looked up at him with an amused
little smile, but did not move. He reached
for the hand, and she put 1t behind her.
''Take it off" he said harshly.
He forced her hand out, took off the
; ring with It's cleaning stone, none too
gently, and laid it on the table behind
him. Then he covered the hand with
kisses.
Now It's my hand. Perhaps there was
little of both those feelings you accuse
me of-perhaps I did want to triumph
over both you and Shepler-and the other
people who said you'd never marry for
anything but money-but do you think I'd
have had either one Of those desires if
: I hadn't loved you? Do you think I'd have
cared how many sheplers you married
II hadn't loved you so, night and day.
always turning to you in spite of every
thing-loving you always, under every
thing-always, tell you"
"Under what-what 'everything?'"
when I was sure you had no heart
that you couldn't care for any man
except a rich man-that you would marry
only for money
} "You thought that?"
"Of course I thought it,
. What has changed your
Nothing. I'm going to change it now
by proving differently. I shall take you
against your will-but shall make YOU
2 love me-in the end. I know you-you're
l q woman, in spite of yourself"
r You were entirely right about me.
e would even have married you because OF
!. the money
Tell me what it Is you're holding back
r don't wait"
Let me think-don't talk, please
!. She sat a long time silent, motionless
4 her eyes fixed ahead. At length she
stirred herself to speak.
You were right about me, partly-and
partly wrong. I don't think I can make
e you understand. I've always wanted sc
much from life--so much more than il
r seemed possible to have. The only thing
o for a girl in my position and circum.
stance was to make what Is called 9
e good marriage. wanted what that would
bring, too. was torn between the de-
sires-or rather the natural instincts ant
the, trained desires. I had ideals abou
/ loving and being loved. and had the ma