Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1904-05-05

When had seen Mr.. Endicott and we
had talked about you l cried again.
/ | think | cried with pride then.
suppose | oughtn't to tell you all this,
| Is it really mistake to tell a man
how much you love him."
He did not seem to hear her last
words.
you talked to Endicott about me?"
/ "Inquisitive boy, o, about your
/ journey and your adventures, and"
She stopped abruptly.
"And what?" His arm ceased to
clasp her. Her hand lay loosely in
his.
81 promised Mr.. Endicott not to
tell" she said.
cot tell what?"
30, you needn't be suspicious, 1t
wasn't anything uncomplimentary."
What was it about?"
do you want to be flattered
Bend down and let me whisper 1t
was about your bravery"
He drew a little away from her
She looked at him astonished and he
forced a smile
Tell me-" he said; tell me all
Ralph told you
II promised not to-" she said doubt.
fully; but then Ralph didn't know
we were going to be engaged" she
went on radiantly, with undoubtins
feminine logic. "and, of course. that
makes all the difference"
/ So she told him. Sitting a little
apart, she acclaimed the whole story
with hooking exaggeration that
could not hide the love and pride
shining in her eyes. And when she
had come to the end she leaned for
ward and laid her hands on his
shoulders.
MY hero" she whispered
/ His hands went up to hers and
4 gripped them tight.
Tell me-" he said hoarsely, would
/ you love me just as much if-if I
hadn't had the chance of doing this ?"
Don't ask stupid riddles. It's
you love, and you did it, How
could love man that wasn't brave?''
For a long moment he looked into
her eyes that smiled so trustfully into
his. Then, with little sigh, he rose
slowly, He drew her hands gently
from his shoulders as he did so and
laid them ON her lap. He stood back
from her and looked at her gravely
She returned his look with smile.
but the smile faded as she watched
him.
Il love you!" he said. His voice
was low, but quite steady. God
knows I'd do anything to spare you
pain. But I'm going to hurt you
badly. l must--I must"
He thrust his hands into his coat
pockets and nodded thoughtfully, as
though agreeing with an argument
presented by himself, She stared at
him amazedly.
Ralph lied" he went ON distinctly.
Part of that tales true: the rest is a
lie. The truth isn't pretty, but you
must hear it,"
He stopped a moment and moisten-
ed his dry lips. His hands clinched
themselves in his pockets.
He said that when his cry and the
roar woke me up sprang to my feet
ana jumped across the fire to his
rescue, l didn't ran away"
She opened her lips to speak. She
was pale He raised her voice a little.
Please" he said, ''let me so on
ia been dreaming. l think horrible
dreams. A touch of fever. perhaps
But that's no excuse, of course.
There isn't any excuse. woke sud
DENLY. and I saw those awful eyes au3
Jaws, and was frightened-hadly
frightened. I think l went OF my
head little. | turned and ran and
ran-anywhere to get away from il
Through the brush and underground
and the tangled creepers. till ! canght
my foot and fell. full length And
then lay on my face-afraid real.
sobbing. shaking fear, don't know
how long"
He paused. drew his handkerchief
from his pocket. and dabbed his lips.
She said not a word. but watched him.