Amador ledger., 1904-07-08
patting her lips with one of her finger

patting her lips with one of her fingers
to discourage yawn.
Didn't you" queried Mary limo.
Gently. Perhaps never did mention
it." Then at the sound of footsteps on
the gravel she added rather hurriedly
Don't lay 1t up against the poor fel-
low, though"
Two dark figures were approaching
from the foot Of the lawn. If Con-
stance jumped at the conclusion that
Douglas Stane was a widower just be-
cause she had said. ''Tell that to Doug
las Stane when he asks you," it was
her own fault.
Meantime that young lady's greeting
to Mr.. Stane was a trifle stiff, but no
one but her tormenting cousin noticed
1t. The gentleman himself seemed ut
terly unconscious. He had determined
to learn his fate and in the grip of
that mighty resolve all minor things
escaped his notice
Miss Singleton seemed bent upon aid
ing him, for she and her fiance were
lost to sight around bend Of the road.
Stane "Hoo-hooedp' after the manner
Of the cottagers in the neighborhood,
but no answer came back.
Deserted US already" he laughed,
his voice a little shaken by the great
question that trembled on his lips.
Lets hurry and catch up with
them," suggested his companion.
How extremely unfiatteringr' came
his answer. II was just longing to
have you all to myself"
He tried to speak lightly, but eager
ness v1brated in his voice. They had
emerged from the grove and stood at
the edge of the rocks.
"My dear, dear lover He took both
of the small hands in his own and
stood looking down at her, struggling
to speak calmly.
you know you must know" he
went on eagerly, that you are the only
woman on earth to me. How I've
lived all these years without you 1 do
not know 1 can't face life without
you any longer. never knew what
it was to live until I met you"
A quick change came over Con-
stances face; even in the dim light
he saw it and wondered, and she
wrenched her hands away.
For shamer' she said hotly. "For
shame! Do you think any woman will
love you better for ignoring her-that
other-the one who in other years was
all the world to your
She stopped, unable to go further,
because the tears were choking her
A look of blank amazement over
spread Stances face, and he stared at
her with eyes that were concentrate
ed interrogation.
"Oh, 1t seems to me-" she went on
passionately, that If / were a man
and had once loved a woman well
enough to marry her, and she had
died, I'd be little bit true to her
memory! If 1 wanted care, compan-
ionship, whatever it is that men re-
marry for, I'd say so, instead of pre-
tending that 1 had never really loved
beforep'
- Had she been less wrought up by
her feelings, she might have noticed
that during this TRADE several express
sions fluttered like shadows across her
lovers face. Astonishment gave way
to understanding, and that in turn to
a grim determination.
II see," he said slowly, but in a
voice whose ring made her look up nj
him with the conviction that he was
no longer suppliant for her favor
You reject my love because
Because you have been married be-
fore" she finished stubbornly.
Jealous of dead woman" he
mused, looking at her through eyes
narrowed TO a mere slit "Ah, mer'
Then. as if the episode were closed
he asked Qrietly. "Shall we return to
the houseT'
She felt suddenly terrified, bereft
She had expected something very diff
ferent-eXpCstulatio self iustifica-
ton. y mi@ ilty struggle was going on
within her. But above the din of con
| tending feelings she heard one clear
cry. Il love him. love him. and
she held out her hands as beseechingly
as child.
You poor. silly little girlr' he
whispered in voice of great content
as he swept her up in his arms, "Who
| ever told you that absurd tale2 But
! I've proved to you that you would
| have loved me even if had beenw