The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1904-05-13


Alice" said Jim Benson, addressing
the woman he had loved silently for Is
years and over, 81 won't wait any longer
Tor my answer, and l won't take no. I'm
coming to see you again tomorrow
morning, and if you haven't told Miss
Laura that you're going to marry me, l
will"
1T isn't as if you didn't love me-" he
continued, taking advantage of the sur
prise and amazement that held her
'Speechless. you do love me, dear, and
you know it, and you know that | ] know
1T; you know I've known it-humbly-
Cor years. I've never dared say this be-
fore, but you'd have let me ask you the
question I've always longed to ask, and
maybe said yes to it years G if it
hadn't been for your sister Laura. Now,
ITS worsetthan foolish for us to do with
out or wait for our happiness any long
er Just because she objects to my person
al appearance and family. I'm not hand
some, | admit, and | know | don't show
up we'll beside her friends and associates,
but then-I'm not asking her to marry
me. And you'll forgive me all the short
rcomings can't help, | know. You never
did mind appearances as much as Miss
Laura. I've the greatest possible respect
for your sister, dear" as Alice flushed
molly and regarded him with dawning
Indignation; Il think she's a wonderful
woman, and | love her for the care she's
tried to take of you. But she doesn't
really need or desire to claim your entire
life, Alice-and dol"
1t was the longest speech Jim Benson
had ever made, and it left him breathless.
He looked at the woman before him for
a long moment of tense silence, as she
blushed and quivered girlishly, her wide
eyes soft and alluring. Then, suddenly,
ne caught her close to him, and kissed
her cheek.
Then, with a murmured reminder Of
Tomorrow morning" he was gone.
well, you mise slble idiot" he
"apostrophized himself on the way back
GO his hotel, there's a hard job over
Talk of wars and battles! San Juan was
nothing to it. I'd rather face a whole
army of Filipinos than do thai again.
-pu ailel lU-LlOlIU" llOlHllS-
And he lost himself in happy dreams.
Said Arthur Huntley, addressing his
nervous image in the mirror:
You're a wretched coward, man, but
you'll do it this evening! It's now or
never, and it mustn't be the latter. Think
Df your foolish, cowardly waiting! Think
xnf fnur 7 wp,Ji ~. lo,n co-,n
drawer man secure her, and never know
what might have happened if you'd
plucked up courage to ask her first! AS
1t is-who knows what she thinks of
your waiting, even if she has caused it?
And if she should say no"
But he utterly refused to consider a
possibility so dire and dreadful. Life
without the long-held dream of some day
having Laura Starrett for wife would
be scarcely worth living. He felt that
the question he had for three years
courage to ask in face of her de-
opposition could be postponed
longer. A %groundless rumor in re-
gard to her tacit encouragement of an
other man had filled him with forebod-
% = W. ~ ~ LC Ill . opSGh. ~
Three ties, five collars, much time, and
effort at last turned him out
sufficiently neat and immaculate to seek
her presence. Once in it, he was shy and
embarrassed as she had never E him.
Her woman's intuition told her that the
decisive momen so long postponed was
close upon her, With the departure of
her earlier callers her last hope OF re-
spite vanished. He took her hand as
me who will not be gainsaid.
Dear" he began, using almost the
words as had used Jim Benson an
or two earlier in addressing Alice,
Dear, | must have my answer-and
won't take no. I've tried for threeyears
% ask you TO marry me, and you've never
allowed it. Now / feel that a hearing is
me, and You must say yes, Laura.
love you p~assionately, dearest, and
eel-sometimes-that you-don't dis
Ike me, although you do keep me at such
! distance. Can't you make up your
mind to be my wife, dear woman, and
me try to make you half as happy as
'ou'd make me without any trying at
II?"
Don't answer now" he urged her. as
lrawing her hand way, she would have
in namistakable manner; don't
anything, dearest, until you've
bought it all over. And I don't believe
here's any cas- for a no. If you like
even a little, Ibelieye I could teach
7ou to love me, and I believe, moreover.
We belong to each other, that we
no business apart" !
AS to your sister fo~restalling her
lnspoken thought and again using al
most the same words is Jim Benson, ito
lream Of sacrificing our happiness for
Ter sake would be foolish and unneces- 4
! should be glad to have her share
,ur home, always, SO she would not miss
Your companionship. For tho rest. she
: fully occupied with her philanthropie
work and charities, she has her " Iife
y 1--we: She does not really need Won.
iearest-and / dot
HE, too, went away with q murmnred
reminder Of MISUNDERSTANDING
eFeping!" And the woman lett behind
glad that Alice had retired early. go leff