The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1905-07-28

she commanded; and when he ha
done so she turned away, saying yer
coidly: Il think we will go to Oh
theater now.
lie cast about yainly for a suttel
flge, and at last fell back upon n
bare fact. We can't go to the theate
now"
And why not?" she asked. Nv
snail only be a little late
OH well, If you really want to know
III tell you" he said, with a shof
laugh. IT'S rather a good Joke, bu
somehow | had depended upon keep
ing il to myself. didn't want to shar
it with you, you see. We cant 90 be
cause that s. was all | had in tn
world. I'm dead broke"
An 49, you - had?" she faltered
All" and she drew a deep breath.
Yes, funny, isn't it? oh, | told yol
it was a good joke"
He felt that he could never face he
again. Even in the hotel after he haC
followed her TO a small upstairs parlo.
and seated himself beside her on thu
sofa he didn't look at her lest her eye
should confirm his fear.
'John-L think--I begin to under
stand" Was 1t really Eunice's voice
He turned toward her, and as he me-
her eyes a great wonder took posses
sion of him. In the sudden reyulsior
Of feeling he blurted out: MY God
Eunice! don't look at me like that Of
you'll make me say something III b.
sorry for
Say it," she murmured. 1--WE beer
waiting so long"
He drew away from her frowning
No, | won't say it, Do you think I've
held on to myself for seven years &c
let myself go now, of all times? Oh
but you make it hard for a fellow,
though"
She leaned toward him, where he
shrank back in the corner of the sofa.
Then III say it. John Brockton, will
you-marry me? There; now perhaps
I've Inundated myself enough to sat
isfy your pride" and she gave a little
laugh that was half a sob.
He rose and lowered over her. Look
here, Eunice, do you think I'll marry a
rich woman as long as I'm a beggar?
| may be a dulfer, but I'm not a cad"
Then you don't love me after ALL"
Love you?" he echoed. "Oh, no. |
don't love you. I've only lived with
m hope and wish ever since | knew
you; I've only worked and risked
all | had and failed miserably because
the Il thing in life wanted was you;
but | don't love you
She rose, too, and confronted him
with angry eyes. Shall | tell you what
You love? You love yourself-your fool
ish pride your false idea of honor. Oh,
what difference does it make about mon
ey-haven't | more than enough for ua
both? Because I'm rich must ] go with.
out the only thing in life that is worth
haying?"
But. Eunice. YOU dom understand.
no woman could understand how q man
feels about such things"
''Feels," she said. contemntuouslv
DO you call such cold-blooded calcula.
ton feeling? And If Is for that Won havs
left me to suffer all This timern
"Let Won suffer," he reneated bIank.
". 81 thought the sufferinp had all hean
on nv side.n
"Ob Of course bsinp a man Won never
of ]nntting yo,rse,F in NV
nIace Won don't know-v Tben snd-
dnn1v ber orgnr dind omor CO.. -
Jack nm thn eofa and bor woo erIoa uith
tears ooh John c,n,t Won rnaorst,na
how 7 nee1 van ~
AS she looked I'm tn him tbropgb be,
tears convention dronned from him as
! garment and all the man in him roso
to meet her weakness For the mo-
ment thew were nrima, az siasfriod ana
Brunhild on the fre-pirt rock ue MILO
a sudden movement toward her
put tho oDnyautinre u,o,o - H.