The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1904-07-15

..,,.a,lon 70 hold him at tnfs dlsaGvan-
t1:-,, ana ~ wa-,i of as long as posi-
I'll, t!4 celebration she knew she must
Il,- r when once they were alone.
f:ut now he was resolved. He would
got DC a plaything for a girls wEIm.
She must make known her decision.
and he would abide by it.
Under cover Of greetings from eight
laughing girls he was able TO ask Til
lie if she would 90 for a short walk
With him.
With another OF the eighth she
asked archIy.
NO: alone"
rglIie snO0k her pretty head in re-
fusal. but her heart beat faster. There
vas something new in the mans tone,
>c.i.vthin% maSterfuI and commanding
.ii.i lie had never known before.
After ii few minutes he wandered.
,yisI apparent listlessnesS. to the tire
place AMI, turning. faced the group.
"Iil,jo.
II the sound Of tie firm. compelling
,uicr eight astoI.isbpd faces were
.u-Hcl toward him and eight pairs OF
ur.-At eyes gazed ut him In constrained
Slice.
.:c took out his watch and held il in
his hand. He looked only at Title. For
him the others were not there. Some
torpShaQowin@ Of the greatness that
was yet to be his fell upon the thin
face and gaunt figure and lent Il
ST. ength and dignity that awed the
girls soul and held her gaze captive.
"Tillie." speaking slowly and clearly.
''in exactly two minutes am going to
propose to you. If you wish your seven
friends to remain have no objection"
A Mortified. gasping "Ohr' in several
different voices. rustic of silken petit
coats. and seven breathless girls scam
pered out into the hall and up the
stairs.
"Of course she'll refuse him. cried
the girl who wrote stories. isn't he
hOrrid?'
mo" answered the woman who read
stories. HE is manifesting the one
needful quality, and Tillie will marry
him"
eff she doesn't" chimed in the artist.
'it will show that she isn't bright
enough to recognize a great man in the
days of his obscurity."
"In which case" added the girl with
the violin, II shall try for him my
self"
This was the last and certainly the
most astounding. Each girl went ST.
lently to her own room, feeling that a
great crisis had come in the life Of one
Of the eight.
Left alone at last with the girl he
loved. Adams made no movement TO
approach her. His eyes had never left
her face. and she had not been able
to look aside even when her cOmpan-
ions fed from the room.
"Tillie"-the grave voice grew sol
EMMY tender-"I have loved you for
years. and you have known it. There
was small need for me to declare a
love that had been yours since child
hood, and | would not seek TO bind you
by any promise until could offer you
a home as we'll as heart l am now
EpduA ~ w IOi !Ou lAA NA4tAl a man '<Ah
do for the woman he loves. Come 10
me. Tillie. and tell me that my love is
returned. that you will be my wife,
Title
He held out his hand, the great
UOny hand that wore no ring and could
no, play the piano. and the dark, home
IL face was illumined with the mighty
love and exceeding tenderness that
only a strong man knows.
The girl rose slowly. her eyes still
fixed on his, and moved toward him as
if impelled by some stronger power
Half way she stopped and raised a
pitiful, pleading face to his.
Abe" she whispered, ABE, are you
going to make me come all the wayT
He had intended to, but the passion |
ate. thrilling sweetness Of his boy
hoods name Overcame his resolve. One |
long step and he caught her in his
arms.
"All the way, sweetheart" he an
swered, but 1 will carry you the other
half"
GEORGIA LEGISLATURE