Rocky Ford enterprise., 1903-07-03
SEVENTEENTH YEAR.
MRS. HAROLD stage.
c.p,rsA. 1850 ..A -, y sss.c ss.s.r. Soc.


his serious tones into soberness on her
oxR part.
For some minutes they walked In
silence. traysrsins the stretch of side
walk that lay between them and the
park! When close To II. he suddeniy
turned and said:
There Is something I wish you to
hear. Miss Baldwin. I will wait until
Ne are where We can talk freely
Whefeupon he led the way into the
park and along the main avenue. At
the nrst opportunity he branehed oa
Into q sidepath. with which he ap-
peared To be familiar. When thsy ~er.
sheltered from probability OF inteTrup-
ton he slackenci his pace, and said.
pointing to n bench:
Shall ~c sit here's"
Eleanor seated herself. Shs had
OWNED from his manner what WAS
brewing. and ~. would fain hay. pre-
scaied him from speaking. but IL Was
obvious that he was determined to
have his say. II. was standing be-
iore her with his hands still elaspcd
behind his back. His fac. reflected
with tho stress Of excitement. Stili
tho voice In which he now began was
composed. though clear:
"a fortnight ago. Miss BALDWIN. I
did not know OF your existence: to-
day there Ii no one In the world to-
ward whom I feel ~ feel toward
you. am young man just starting
In life. poor and struggling. without
influence. and dependent solely on my
own cnd-avors In order To make my
way. ] am well aware that a woman
such ~ you can afYori to bs !udisYcr.
cnt TO the love OF a man like me. I
remember well that on the hrst even.
ins OF our acquaintancc-an evening
every moment OF which Ia precious to
my mcinofy-you said that you would
make none but q brilliant match.
Moreover. what have to offer you
except poverty: Even IL you would.
We could not venture to be married,
for have not the means with which
to support you. You see ! recognize
the hopclcssncss OF the situation. And
yet am bold or fatuous enough.
whichever you may call IL. to tell you
OF my love: TO tell you what n bliss.
ful influence your presence and so
cicty have boon to mo during these
two short weeks. told you on that
same hrst evening that had never
been In love. I know now both its
rapture and It's anguish. know. too.
how the gall OF jealousy can In an
instant blot happiness from the heart
and bleach the glory from tho sun.
shine. You are going away-far away.
very likely. and In another fortnight
I can scarcely hope to be remembered.
Well. you have my sccrct-one which
I did not intend 10 part with: and the
worst Of II Is. the telling OF II cannot
avail me, rs I well understand"
As Struthers finished he seated him.
self on the bench beside Eleanor and
covered his face with his hands.
For few moments she was silent.
then she said:
You may be sure OF one thing. Mr..
Struthers: l shall not easily forget
you. This fortnight has been n very
pleasant one to me. and largely so be-
cause OF your presence. am very.
very sorry that You feel as you do.
and that cannot help you. 1 am your
friend. but 1t Is not love that feel
for YOU"
II had no idea that you loved me.
No; have merely opened my heart
to you because / could not help It.
Still I shall never give up hoping
against hope" he added. lifting his
tear.dimmed eyes to hers. "You spoke
once OF your life.work and asked II I
would ever give up mine for the sake
OF a woman. My life.work for the fu-
ture is to win your love. Only tell me
truly before I cease to trouble you,"
he went on, that there is no one else
whom you love. There was something
in the look of that man who came to
take you to drive with him that forced
the iron into my soul and made me
feel that had in him rival. Does
he love you, too? You cannot deny 1t,
I see."
IL do not love Mr.. Page. shall
never marry him. even II he asks me-"
THANK you for that. And now all
that remains for me is to make the
most of myself, to win a name and
fortune and success. in order to rem
der myself in some measure worthy
to be your husband. shall hope
you cannot prevent me from that: and
the day may come when l shall dare
to speak to you again of my love,
which time will only make stronger
and deeper. see you shake your
head. That will not deter me. Some
day I shall win you from Yourself"
Again Eleanor shook her head sadly.
1T is true" she said. that cannot
prevent YOU from hoping AGAINST hone
but l warn you that 1t is at your peril.
Poor Aunt Emma! She has done her
best to win me from myself. Why
should you hope" she asked, with
sweet smile, ito succeed when she has
failed?'