Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1906-05-03
With All My
Heart
BY EDITH NJ. DOANE

tHe conductor, jerking open tne door.
\ young man sprang to the platform,
closely followed by girl muffied to
her ears in soft, warm furs. Burying
her face In her big, fluffy muff, she re-
fused his guiding arm and walked
briskly down the snow drifted steps
out into the white, whirling world in
the street below.
Isn't it a lark?" she said gayly. Her
eyes were dancing. She turned a
lovely face, flushed with cold and ex-
citement, toward the six feet of mas
culine appreciation beside her. isn't
it gloriousT
"Beautiful~ His eyes were on her
face.
Don't you love it?
with all my hearth hummed Cor
don Huston fervently.
The first snowstorm is alluring, fas-
cinating. Words are so hopelessly in
adequate
"They are" he agreed approvingly.
II am speaking Of the Storm icily.
''Of course"-his voice was that of
injured innocence-"the storm. What
elseg'
She struggled for stern disapproval.
Then their eyes met, and they both
laughed.
"To think of Aunt Clara's headache
at the last moment"
Blessed headache!'
"And of her actually consenting to
my coming alone"
ITS dreadful" he murmured, "but /
find it in my heart to forgive her"
Then, being very young and exceed
ingly foolish, they laughed again.
The street lamps fiared in ghostly
succession and her furs were white
with snow as they pushed through the
soft, smothering storm.
Tell me'-in spite of himself his
voice was unsteady-"you really did
care about coming"
"Oh, yes," lightly; 81 have always
wanted to see the Cafe Bellard."
There was no other reasonT
She looked at him in apparent sur
prise, though her eyes danced with
mischief "Other reason" she echoed.
Suddenly her mood changed. With
quick little gesture she laid her hand
on his arm.
Don't, Gordon" she said beseech-
ingly. Eve have only few hours to-
gether. Don't"-nervously-"say things
to spoil our evening, Gordon"
"As you wish" His tone was courte-
Gus, but full of coldness. So his great
love fer her was but a thing that
would "spoiI' her evening.
They had reached the corner now,
and in silence they crossed the street
to the great cafe, whose lights flared
out invltingly through the whirling
snow.
Inside the strains of a Hungarian
band foated dreamily through the
crowded rooms, lights blazed, there
was the hum of many voices, and the
scent of tobacco smoke clung to the
air In a corner they found a table
that commanded q view of the laugh
Ing, chattering cosmopolitan crowd.
81 am so glad you thought of bring
ing me here" said Molly shyly, abash-
ed by his studied silence. 1T Is like
the places on the continent. There Is
one in Paris, in the Rue de Rivoli, that
/ wish you could see."
81 will look it up next month"
She gave perceptible start, which
was balm to his wounded feelings.
'Next month"; she repeated. with
mournful attempt at unconcern. Il
didn't know you were going abroad"
"The firm has offered me the man.
agement of branch house 1t Is open
ing in Paris"
"Of course you will go. 1t Is nat
ural. You viii be very happy there"
The last strains of q dreamy waltz
died softly away. The applause leaped
from table to table, then subsided as
the opening bars of gay little French
love song fioated through the rooms.
'Is that what you thinkf he said
earnestly, dropping his voice and lean
ing across the table. "Then for once
you are wrong. / shall never be happy
anywhere without you"-determinedly
-"as my WIFE"
Tue catchy little French song swung
gayly on; n musician began to sing the
words to the accompaniment Of the
violins; first one voice, then another
caught up the refrain. with all my
heart, with all my heart" echoed
through the crowded rooms.
"That is it," he said simply. with
all my heart that is how l love you
with all my heart
Don't say anything more" said the
girl. almost passionately. Don't. The
more you say now the worse it will be
for me by and by when 1 have to
think. And-and-it is all quite i'm
possible"
''But why, dear| He had grown
little pale in his turn and regarded her
ruefully.
"Why is it impossible?" His mind
rushed backyard with a lightning
stroke to the rumors that had come
from Bar Harbor In the summer time.
In one quick fash he understood.
TT is Mortonr he said bitterly.
"I have promised to marry him." she
returned in low tone-so low that he
had to bend to hear it. "Do not be
angry with me- 1 thought did not
know
A light broke over his dismay. you
mean-you could care-you do care-a
little?' he questioned eagerly.
She picked up spoon and twisted it
nervously in her fingers. "That does
not matter" she said gravely, because
i have given my word"
"But you will break that wretched
promise?"
he looked steadily at her, and she
returned the gaze as steadily. NO"
she said, very sweetly and gravely; Il
cannot break my word. He depends
on me utterly. He has no thought ex-
cept for my happiness. He is so good.
He has never cared for any other wo-
man. If / should desert him it would
break his heart"
Gordon leaned forward, his elbows
on the table, his face between his
hands, and regarded her with hurt,
miserable eyes.
And you prefer TO break mine," he
said gloomily.
Il have promised" repeated Molly
quietly, with a little wan attempt at a
smile.
How does it happen that l am al
lowed TO have you for even these few
hoursf" lie went on moodily.
He is away on business" Molly an
Svrered her eyes intent uDon the ad-