The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1906-08-09

| after her TatncrS Qcatn ana SIenO2ra-
| ply was the most immediate thing, but
that she had no intention Of being a
stenographer all her life.
| When he asked her what She would
do or what she wanted to do she first
| looked at him and then blushed deep
| ly, looking out of his window toward
| the Palisades, and he felt strangely
| disturbed He had accepted her in his
| office as a matter Of course COmpan-
| ionship with her on that basis seemed
natural and easy, but he was a man OF
| reserve, and departure from the con-
| sentative routine disquieted his phleg-
| matte nature Their conversation kept
| the old friendly tone Of everyday badl-
mage and comprehension, but there
was a subtle difference, and he began
| to feel her presence more and more.
| Finally one spring afternoon when
| the sun was flooding his office with
| primrose yellow glow she looked in
and asked if she might talk with him.
"Why, certainly" he responded, with
a smile, "and / wish you would sit in
that yellow light. 1t just suits you in
| that brown dress"
| She sat down, but did not speak at
first Her lips trembled, and she seem
ed to be seeking courage from the vel
low sky. Suddenly she turned to him.
"Mr. Lee" she said, II have been
with you four years"
| "Is it as long as that?" he ques-
toned.
| "Four years this day"
"They have been busy years." he
said land, l hope, happy ones"
Eyes, they were happy" she answer
| ed slowly as pink flush spread over
her face. But now l must go away"
go away? Leave me? Why, Helen,
you mustn't. l can't spare you. Where
would you go?"
In his surprise he had called her Hell
en- for the first time, and her heart
leaped. She turned to him TREMENDOUSLY
and said, almost timidly, II am going
to get married"
married." He brought out the word
incredulously ''Why, | thought
Here he broke off and walked to the
his pockets, gazing modify across the
river
| She sat silent until he turned to her
again why do you do this?" he ques-
! toned
! Womanlike, she began with the rea-
| sons she felt least. Because | want a
home. l am all by myself, and | am
| tired of living in boarding house. 1t
| is nothing but travesty on life for a
domestic woman to divide her time be-
tween an Office and a boarding house.
Besides, have worked for four years,
and want to stop for awhile"
Just for awhile?"
! Eyes, for | mean to study law and
| keep my other work in practice so |
can help"
/ "Help? Whom?'
"Help-him."
"He is lawyer, then" Lee almost
+! choked over the question.
Eyes"
"What is he like? Is he all right?
Is he worthy of you?
She looked at him, he thought, little
sadly Like? He is the finest man
in the whole world
He walked swiftly to her. But,
Helen, Helenv' he exclaimed, 81 don't
understand it at all. l thought you
were happy here, and l supposed, of
course, you understood things. I'm
| lonely too l haven't had a home for
six years, and l thought that some day
Helen, don't you mind leaving me-?
| Won't you miss me at all? Haven't
you seen, girl, what you are to meW
He took her hands and drew her up be-
side him. Didn't you know, Helen?"
"Know what?" She lifted her brown
eyes to his.
"That love you and want you to be
mine?"
"You never said So" she answered.
"That's because l thought you knew
and because 1 always blunder 1 need
somebody with me all the time I need
you, Helen. You're the biggest part, of
| my life. Come and make a home for
{ me-"
| He folded her suddenly in his arms,
and his heart thrilled as he felt her
lean on him.
Sweetheart" he whispered, 81 love
you! love your
She lifted her face to his. Dear"
she breathed SO softly that he had to
bend to catch it, II have loved you for
four years.
| He held her close in the gathering
dusk for one ecstatic moment. Then
she drew away. He came back to
earth slowly. Not letting her go, he
looked away and out of the window,
where the golden light had been merg
ed into dull purple streaked with red
and where the evening star cleaned
radiant in the upper blue. "This other
chap" he began.
what other chap" she asked.
"The one you were-were going to
marry"
! She raised on her tiptoes and kissed
him. ''There's only one," she whisper
ed, ''and it's YOU
rI,o ~ 10 IL