The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1904-12-22
The Man Behind
the Bushes q q
ByrHoMAs p. MoNTFoRT
Copyright, 1904, by Daily Story Pub. Col


4 MAN and a woman walked slowly
"A up and down in quiet corner of
city park. A little to one side another
man. bloated and blear-eyed, crouched
in the shadow of a clump Of bushes
Presently the man and woman stopped
and stood facing each other
mo, John, we must not think of that"
the woman was saying. alt can never
be-"
"Why can't it be- ANN" the man asked
why do you say it can never be-"
Because it is true" she replied,
YEARLY.
why should it be true, Ann? You
know love you"
She made no reply, and after moment
he added, more softly:
And l know you love me-"
Still she was silent, but her head
dropped and a flame of color swept up to
her face. If there had been any doubt in
his mind there was no reason for it to re-
main there longer.
my darling" he said, gently, you are
all the world to me, and l will not rest
until you let me try to make you happy.
You love me- Why won't you be my
wife,"
She looked up at him appealingly, but
there was light Of JOY in her eyes. He
looked at her and waited, and after long
time she said, in tones low and soft:
You forget, John. You should not
say such things. 1t is wrong"
"Wrong to tell you that love you?"
he cried. Wrong to want you for my
own"
Yes. You know you have no right"
But have. When man and wom-
an love each other as we love, there is no
reason why they should not marry and
make each other happy"
"In our case there is reason, John"
The man shrugged his shoulders impa-
tiently.
there is not That other-the only one
who could come between us-is dead.
You know what we heard. He was killed
in a railroad accident"
The man behind the bushes whistled
softly.
so that is the report, is it," he said to
himself. "Well, it's news to me-"
Ann was silent for little while, then
she said, slowly:
Il know; but that report may not be
true. No one can tell"
"But everybody believes it is true"
John urged There is no reason to
doubt it,
81 know" she repeated. 81 believe it.
too. But suppose it should turn out that
it is not true? Suppose should listen
to you, and then that other should come
back? Don't you see?"
Yes; but he will never come, Ann.
If he was living you would have heard
from him before this"
81 might; but don't know"
He walked backward and forward for
minute or two. then he stopped in front
of her.
ann" he said, eff yoa have any doubts
of your being free, there are the courts.
They"
She shook her head.
81 have nothing to say against that
other" he went on; "but know you have
led sad life. You have suffered bit
terly."
She raised her head till her eyes met
his. There was admiration and tender
ness in her look.
you are too generous to say what you
think, john" she said, "but I know.
You think I owe that other nothing.
Everybody thinks that. He married me
for my money, and when he had got it
and squandered it all. he went away and
left me to get along the best could"
She paused, but he said nothing. After
little she went on, almost sadly
81 was left alone in the world, and
had no friends, and 1t was all so dark.
Then you came into my life, and you
were so kind and considerate and help
full. You helped me to find way to live
and"
"Never mind all that, Ann" he inter-
rupted. 1T is nothing. eff have your
love that repays me thousand times
over for all have done for you. And
know you do love me, Ann. You do not
say so, but know it is true"
She hesitated for moment; then she
said, steadily:
Eyes, it is true, John. 1 do love yon.
/ love you with all my heart and soul.
1t may be wrong, but If it is cannot help
it. 1t would hardly be in human nature
not to love you after all you have done
for me-"
The man behind the bushes chuckled
softly.
THAT ought to be worth good bit of
money to me" he told himself.
Johns face lighted up with a great
happiness. and impulsively he held out
his arms to her. But she did not come to
them.
mo, John, not that" she said "You
forget that am a wife,"
His arms dropped and the light of hap
piness in his face gave place to an ex-
preston of disappointment.
II forget everything" he answered.
save cur love for each other. thank