Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-01-31

for an insta mt and saw, to his astonish-
ment that her proud head lay on her
arms, which were outstretched on the
table near which she had been sitting.
He was back by her side, kneeling
again and calling her name When she
lifted her head there were tears on her
glowing cheeks
John, l cannot bear to have it so.''
''Then do you love me, Luella, enough
to share all with me?' he cried
eyes; I love you, john" she said
slowly. But even as she said it she
drew back from him a little. AT the
same time do not see why it is neces-
sary to live at Hope House."
Net necessarily there, but some
where among the people. Luella, do
you not understand my reasons for
wanting to know the people?'
Il am not sure" she replied in a
troubled tone, and then suddenly she
turned away from him and put her
head down on her arms again.
John Gordon rose and walked up and
down the room. Twice as he went
past the table he paused irresolutely,
his mind in turmoil, his heart uncer-
tain. The third time he stopped, with
decision in his manner, and placed
his hand on her head.
Il do not ask you to marry me unless
you can trust everything to me. If
you are not able to say without any
fear or doubt, 4 will go with you in
all the way you have chosen do not
1 cannot, plead with you, Luella. Is
that asking too much, dear? Can the
man who loves you ask any less?"
mo, no, he can ask no less! But
John, I fear to co. She had raised
her head and was looking at him with
more agitation than he had ever known
her to show. 81 am not certain that
am fitted, that am adapted, for such
life. l have horror of the places
the-1 do not love the people, John, as
you say you do. Am l to blame for
that?"
She asked the question almost tim
idly, but nothing could soften the hard
ness of the statement to him. He did
not yet see that the &c thing that kept
questions was her lack of religious ex-
perience. She did not love the people
because all her life had been so far
devoted to a love Of the things that
had surrounded her social position.
mo, do not think you are to blame.
But, oh, Lucia. could you not learn to
love them? Could you not come with
me and let the FUTURE
Il could not PRETEND she began,
with return of her proud attitude.
II do not ask you to pretend If
you love me. will not all the rest be
possible?"
She was silent a moment. Then sud-
denly she looked up and said frankly:
Il would not be true to you if kept
anything back. l not only do not love
the people as you do, but do not see
why you should sacrifice your life to
them, as you plan to do. l cannot see
that you will accomplish anything"
"And is accomplishment the great
and only thing? Is there nothing in
being or in striving regardless of &C.
complishment? But / cannot argue
the matter. If you love me enough,
Luella, all the rest will follow; if you
aon't, it will all be useless to you.''
She still looked at him with the un-
certain, disturbed air that had marked
her manner when he first began to talk
to her, only the look had deepened in
to an expression of doubt and painful
unrest.
Il do not see the need of all you plan
to do. l do not see the need" she said
slowly.
you would not have to see that if
you only loved me-" he replied in low
tone, and there was hopelessness in
it that had not been present before.
He stood looking at her, and suddenly
he added:
LET us be entirely frank, Luella,
that we may not misunderstood. You
shrink from the thought Of living in a
place like Hope House; you hesitate to
commit your future to me because Of
the physical losses, the absence in our
future Of these physical luXuries we
have both known, into which we have
been born-is that it? Your love for me
is not strong enough to make this loss
seem .nsignificant-is that rue?'
1t was blunt question, and he pur-
posely put it bluntly, perhaps more so
than was fair to her. Over her face
the color deepened, and she evidently
felt the implied reproach in his sum-
ming up of her hesitation.
'"That is not quite the TRUTH"
"A part of it?''
you have no right to force such
question upon me-"
Il have a right to know the whole
TRUTH
"You would not understand
Il would understand everything if
you loved me enough to go with me
without question:
"Love does not mean being unrea-
sonable.''
''Yes, Luella, it does, at least this
far-that love will trust where it can
not always give reasons"
She was silent again.
He took a step nearer.
T IN