The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1903-10-30

"
would have shocked her an hour be.
rtrc. She could not help wondering
what her friends would say If they
SHOULD see hcr.
"llorc had nm idea that you would
not hc nt all socnblc with Il fellow"
he said. "und think that you are Just
nnC. am sorry that | did not come
around aud get acquainted soop"r."
She looked UP gratefully They were
waiting for the exhibition of fireworks,
aud he had found her Il seat where they
could have II good view and not he
jostlcd by the crowd.
IL certainly shall remember this
day" she suid.
81 know that shall" aud there was
n strange look ON his dark, handsome
face.
II will think of II when get lonely"
she said slowly, ms If half to herself
"Do you ever get lonclyI" h. asked.
Sometimes. think that there Is
no place where n person can get rs
lonely ns In II large city. OF course |
have my work, but there urc times
when | feel 1t very much" Her voice
tremblcd in spite Of herself. "rhcrew
she exclaimed suddenly. You Hrc the
first person to whom | have over nc
knowlcdgcd that | ever got lonely" she
laughed.
He leaned over and brushed n fallen
leaf from her hat.
You See this has been my one day
on ana It has spoiled me, | do not
often give up day to pleasure"
They We're silent for few minutes.
Cheer after cheer went up from the
crowd ms the brilliant fireworks shot
high In the air, but they did not seem
to see them.
"Do you know that"-hc suddenly
pnuscd-"I will get lonely too when l
am on my ranch and think of you here,
and just can't go home without you.
There 1t is OUT" he said impulslvely.
"Annn, won't you go with me? | have
never cared for any one before, but |
think have been loving you for years.
l have known 1t for II long time. |
heard so much about you and l learned
to love your picture, but when | got
here l could not summon up courage
enough TO call. l know that | am alb
rupt and not used to society; but, Anra,
will you marry me and go home with
mep II do love YOU"
1t was nearly dark, and those around
were taking care of their own affairs
He leaned close to her. 81 know that
1t Is n great deal to ask you to give up
everything here and go on n ranch, but
l will try to take good care of you and
do all that l can to make you happy"
he said pleadingly.
She did not answer. He waited a
few minutes.
Forgive me, Miss Reynolds" he
said. new dignity in his t""'. 81
must be wild to think for moment
that you would ever dream of marry
ing me-" His voice trembled. 81 can't
help loving you. but you must forget 1t.
1 thank you for the pleasure that you
have given me today. 1t will be the
one bright spot in my life. l shall
often think of It."
Still she was silent. She was living
the years to come-the days with her
books and papers, the lonely hours she
must spend and the longing that she
would feel to have some one to care for
her in spite of all her talk of womanly
independence. And then she seemed
to feel that protecting arm that had
been slipped so unccrcmoniously
around her in the crowd and the strong
hand that had guided her. She asked
herself If II had been only for day
that she had been so taken care of,
and she knew that she would miss 1t
on the morrow unless She looked
up at the man who had come so sud
denly into her life and in whom she
felt perfect trust who would make
her life so different If she would only
allow him to do so, and then-shc
slipped her hand in his.
I'm 80 with you, Phil" she whis-
pcred. II don't believe that l can get
along without you. I'll miss you So"