The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1904-08-19

Sue WAS dl[lOSI SUI "uCu ohS ga "
his mouth tighten and the fine nervous
lines in his face grow deeper.
"That's blow" he said, with dry
lips. "Yet you told me once that l
had never failed you
"In service-no."
"Only in the little things, then?'
"They're what count with a woman
"That's not reasonable. I'm abrupt
-disagreeable at times, l guess--but
you know quite we'll that is only man.
ner.''
She gazed into the light without re-
plying. His eyes were on the rug
pattern again.
II have always thought" he began
after minute, "that marriage is a
partnership of equals, the capital
stock personal liberty and of course
love and respect. Then if the wife
wanted to do one thing and the hus-
band another they'd either go it alnone
with perfect pleasantness or compare
notes. Whoever showed the best case
would win the day.
"For instance interest in her
face warmed him to his theory-"il
you and l were married"-her face
changed to reguish disgust-"and
you wanted to 60 to dinner and /
wanted to st ay at home you'd give
your reasons, l mine. If you wished
more than l wished to stay, we'd go.
Isn't that fair?"
mo, no, no!' she cried excitedly.
"Who'd be judge? You, of course.
I'd be as bad hermit as you in a lit
tie while, I'd rather give in than have
friction"
"I'm not frictional,' he pleaded.
"You can't or won't understand me.
Besides, if you don't like me as l am
take me and edit me-
"You told me you never touched re.
jected manuscript. Why should 1?''
He laughed, though the shaft found
tender spot. After another interval
of silence he began to speak in a cur
ious, controlled tone.
81 can't realize my dream is done.
hadn't any right to it, OF course. but
just the same I've thought of time
when you would care enough to marry
me. I wanted little house, not very
large or wonderful; it wouldn't need
to be if you were there. Think of
having ones own brand of sunshine!
What tool I've been! You couldn't It
care for a man older, unpublished, his
enthusiasm and freshness gone. ]
suppose some fellow will be lucky
enough to sit opposite to your smile?"
II hope so," she said quietly, 81
don't care to be an old maid"
"You won't be. l wonder who--
not Howells-he's not clever enough.
It's rather a wonder you have stuck
it out so long. You're unusually tas-
cinating. Did l ever tell you that?'
"You never told me anything NICE"
she said pettishly.
"But you know that for me you
were the prettiest, sweetest woman in
the world And l believed in your
talent. Why, if you'd been willing
to marry me we'd have made you a
famous artist. You won't find many
men who hold the theory of woman 8
right to individuality"
ooh, theorics!' she cried inpatient
ly. You'd feed woman on theories
when she was starved for a kiss"
He sprang to his feet, his face flus h.
ing.
That's cruel and unjust! You con-
demn me without knowing. Lots of
times your face has been 50 close to
mine l had only to put my arms about
you and-and instead I've clinched
my hands and moved away because l
knew you held a kiss a sacred thing
and l had so little to offer except my
love-"
"You merely mean," she said, her
breath coming little queerly, "that
you refrained from gratifying a pass
ing temptation
"Why will you try to hurt me?' he
demanded, stopping his quick pacing
and looking down at her. II mean l
refrained from tellieg you l loved you
with all my heart and soul, that you
are the one woman in the world who
satisfies all my imaginings, and then
and them
II can't see why you didn't she
murmured, half bold, half tremulous
'I've kept my lips for such kiss
Something dropped from him like a
dark garment.
"But you said,' he faltered. She