The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-06-19

real!' Then to himself: Suppose she balks? But
she won't-she can't" And he repeated the impos-
sibihty of it until his courage grew calm.
But she did.
He found her in the parlor, and-"My dear Lucy"
he said at last, Il was afraid it might surprise you a
bit; but l didn't expect to run into a blizzard. If the
mercury sinks much lower III wire for a relief train"
She was pretty, too pretty to be cold; she
looked like a forward rose caught in the snow. What
hurts me" she said calmly, lis that you thought
you could come and take me whenever you wished.
You had no right; it is so disrespectful, SO unkind!'
Warren Wood should have quailed; but he had
fought his way up in Chicago, and did not know how
to retreat.
Il have the right, or l should not be here" he said
gravely. When l left Exmore | took your pledge
with me. 1t was because of my love for you that
your father spoke to me so brutally, as | thought it
then-so wisely, as l see it now 1t was for you
that l have grappled with life and won something.
1t was your face that shone through the cloud and the
fog, and when | was wounded and kicked in the hard
battles of the day it was the thought of you that
healed the sore places and made me struggle on.
Success didn't come like a new sunrise every morn
ing; it came, as 1t does to most men, suddenly, lust as
the victory comes after the long, bitter campaign.
And when l was ordered to Europe, l thought only of
taking you-of the great times we should have, of
the fine things we should buy, of the love which should
make us glad and bring back the old days when |
wasn't worth my salt"
He paused; but it was only for more strength, more
eloquence.
Miss Butler listened without a sign.
"Oh, Lucy, you must! We loved each other so
long; we love each other now. We couldn't love
better if the cards were out and We were to have a
church wedding. How could l ever explain MI. and
Mrs. Wood on the passenger list? How, Lucy? It's
one of the h-andsomest state-rooms in the ship. And
think of London, and Paris, and Berlin-and all the
time III have to love and worship you!'
He said other things, all the things that surged in
wild troops through his mind and soul. and suddenly
his heart leaPed in JOY, for he saw a tear-a tiny bit
of tear-stealing down her cheek.
He jumped to his advantage.
will you make me go tell them that it is all over?"
he asked. Twill you"
But the right moment had come, and he gathered
her in his arms and kissed her and smiled, and kissed
her again and laughed in the JOY of success.
"Of course it is all right!' he explained to Mr.. and
Mrs. Butler. How in the world could you think
that l would do all this without being sure?"
He waived Mr.. Buffers mild oppositions with the
magic of a master: he kissed Mother Butler into peace
and acquiescence; he conquered DR.. Wood, who arrived
on the scene and began with objurgations for Zeb, and
who ended with ordering the old darby to take the
bride and groom to the station forthe two-o'clock train.
Dear" said the young man from Chicago when
the train had left the village, Il hope you feel COM
Portable"
Il feel" she replied, between a gasp and a smile,
a. &c II I bod haap lJJna1raI ~