Mower County transcript., 1906-06-27
HE WAS DUMB.

E4 &l =
HE WAS DUMB.
good woman happy, whether she loved
or not. And you would have gone
away without telling me, event"
EYES," He dug into the earth with
his riding-boot. If only she knew how
she was crucifying him!
''Why were you going away without
telling me?'
He was dumb.
Her arms and eyes, uplifted, appealed
to heaven. What shall I say? How
shall I make him understand % she
murmured. "You love me, and you
ask for nothing? Is it because in
spirit my father has committed a
crime?"- growing tall and darting a
proud glance at him.
Good heaven, do not believe that"
he cried.
What am I to e?'-tapping
the ground with her boot so that the
spur jingled.
A pause.
''Mr. WarburtOn. do you know what
a woman loves in man? I will tell
you the secret. She loves courage,
constancy, and honor, purpose that
surmounts obstacles; she loves pur-
suit; she loves the hour of surrender.
Every woman builds a castle of ro-
nance and waits for Prince Charming
to enter, and once he does, there must
be a game of hide and seek. Perhaps
have built my castle of romance, too.
/ wait for Prince Charming, and-a
man comes, dressed as groom. There
has been game Of hide and seek, but
somehow he has tripped. Will you not
ask me if love you?''
'.No, no! I understand. I do not
want your gratitude. You are meeting
generosity with generosity. l do not
want your gratitude, ,'-brokenly. Il
want your love, every thought of
your mind, every beat of your heart.
Can you give me these honestly?"
She drew off a glove. Her hand be-
came lost in her bosom. When she
drew it forth she extended it, palm up
ward. Upon it lay a faded, withered
rose. Once more she turned her face
away.
He was at her side, and the hand and
rose were crushed between his two
hands
"Can you give what I ask? Your
love, your thoughts, your heart -beats?'
1t was her turn to remain dumb.
"Can your" He drew her toward
him perhaps roughly, being uncon-
scious of his strength and the nervous
energy which the sight of the rose had
called into being.
Can we give those things which are
-already-given?'
Only Warburton and the angels, or
rather the angels and Warburton, to
get at the chronological order of
thinS.> heard her, so low had grown
hI voice.
You may tell any kind of secret to
horse; the animal will never be-
tray you. Warburton would never tell
me what followed; and l am too SEN
sible to hang around the horses in
hopes of catching them in the act of
talking over the affair among them
selves. But l can easily imagine this
bit of equine dialogue;
Jane: Did you ever see such foolish
ness?
Dick: Nevert And with all this
good grass about!
Whatauar did fc11cru ooueo1 +bo o;rT
to murmur: This is the lover I love;
this is the lover / have been waiting
for in my castle of romance. l am glad
that have lost all worldly things;
am glad, glad! When did you first
learn that you loved me?"
(Old, very old; thousands of years
old, and will grow to be many thou
sand years older. But from woman's
lips it is the sweetest question man
ever heard.)
AT the Care du Nord, in Paris; the
first time I saw you'
"And you followed me across the
ocean? an?"-wonderingly
"And when did you first learn that
you loved me?" he asked.
(Oh the trite phrases of lovers
litany.)
when saw you in the police-court.
Mercy; what a scandal! I am to
marry my butler!"
Jane: They are laughing!
Dick: That is better than weeping.
Besides, they will probably walk us
home. (Wise animalD
He was not only wise but prophetic
The lovers did walk the horses home.
Hand in hand they- came back. along