The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1904-06-07
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NARROW CHANCE
(Copyrishs. isaA, by Daily story Pub. Col
~ ETHEL n. coULsoN


THE two men. oddly enough, delivered
each his ultimatum on the same
evening.
Alice" said Jim Benson, addressing
the woman he had loved silently for is
years and over, II won't wait any longer
for my answer, and won't take no. I'm
coming to see you again tomorrow
morning. and IL you haven't told Miss
Laura that you're going to marry me.
will"
TT isn't as II you didn't love me" he
continued, taking advantage Of the sur
prise and amazement that held her
speechless. You do love me. dear, and
you know It, and you know that know
1t; you know I've known it-humbly-
for years. I've never dared say this be-
fore. but you'd have let me ask you the
question I've always longed to ask, and
maybe said yes to 1t years ago II 1t
hadn't been for your sister Laura Now.
it's worse than foolish for us to do with
out or wait for our happiness any long
er just because she objects to my person
al appearance and family. I'm not hand
some. admit, and know don't show
up well beside her friends and associates,
but then-I'm not asking her to marry
me. And you'll forgive me all the short
comings / can't help. / know. You never
did mind appearances as much as Miss
Laura I've the greatest possible respect
for your sister. dear" as Alice flushed
hotly and regarded him with dawning
indignation; Il think she's a wonderful
, woman, and love her for the care she's
tried to take OF you. But she doesnt
really need or desire to claim your entire
life, Alice-and doi"
II was the longest speech Jim Benson
had ever made. and 1t left him breathless.
He looked at the woman before him for
! q long moment of tense silence. as she
| blushed and quivered girlishly. her wide
eyes soft and alluring. Then. suddenly.
he caught her close to him. and kissed
her cheek
Then, with q murmured reminder OF
l,''to-morrow morning" he was gone.
We'll. you misepble idiot" he
apostrophized himself on the way back
to his hotel. there's a hard Job over.
Talk Of wars and battles! San Juan was
nothing to IT. I'D rather face a whole
army OF Filipinos than do that again.
But-after tomorrow morning"
And he lost himself In happy dreams.
Said Arthur Huntley. addressing his
nervous image in the mirror:
You're q wretched coward, man. but
you'll do II this EVENING" It's now or
never. and II mustn't be the latter. Think
Of your foolish. cowardly waiting! Think
of how It would seem to have some
braver man secure her. and never know
| what might have happened II you'd
plucked up courage to ask her first, As
II is-who knows what she thinks OF
your waiting. even II she has caused 1t :?
And IL she should say no"
But he utterly refused to consider q
possibility so dire and dreadful. Life
without the long-held dream Of some day
having Laura Starrett for wife would
be scarcely worth living. He felt that
the question he had for three years
lacked courage to ask in face of her de-
termined opposition could be postponed
no longer. A groundless rumor in re-
gard to her tacit encouragement of an
other man had filled him with forebod-
ings. Yes. certainly. he must speak.
Three ties. five collars. much time. and
unlimited effort at last turned him out
sufficiently neat and immaculate to seeb
her presence. Once in II, he was shy and
embarrassed as she had never seen him
Her woman's intuition told her that tn,
decisive moment so long postponed wa.
close upon her. With the departure oi
her earlier callers her last hope Of re.
spite vanished. He took her hand a:
one who will not be gainsaid.
Dear" he began. using almost the
same words as had used Jim Benson ar
hour or two earlier In addressing Alice
l"Dear. / must have my answer-and
won't take no. I've tried for three year:
to ask you to marry me. and you've nevel
allowed It. Now feel that a hearing 1!
due me. and l. you must say yes. Laura
II love you passionately. dearest. and
Ifeel-sometimes-th you-don't dis
like me. although you do keep me at sucl
a distance. Can't you make up you
mind to be my wife. dear woman. anS
lIet me try to make you half as happy a
Iyou'd make me without any trying a
an?"
Don't answer now" he urged her, a
drawing her hand way. she would hav,
spoken in unmistakable manner; don
say anything. dearest. until you'v,
Thought II all over. And don't believ,
there's any reason for a no. II you lik
me. even a little. believe l could teacl
Iyou TO love me. and believe. moreover
that We belong to each other. that W
have no business apart"
las to your sister," forestalling he
unspoken thought and again using al
. most the same words as Jim Benson. 1T
! dream OF sacrificing our happiness 70
her sake would be foolish and unneces
! sary. I should be glad to have her shar
our home. always. so she would not mis-
your companionship. For the rest, sh
IS fully occupied with her philanthropi
work and charities. she has her own lif
. to live. She does not really need yoU
3 dearest-and I doi"
He. too. went away with a murmure
4 reminder of ''to-morrow-to-mor
evening"" And the woman left behind
= glad that Alice had retired early. so LEI
her q fine chance to think quitely
: found this not easy to do.
DI Her mind ran back. uneasily. to tn
: far days when she and Alice had bee
young girls. happy and thoughtles:
Then. suddenly. had come the loss O
parents. luxuries. everything to whic
they had been always accustomed. tn
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