Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-11-20


 him. You ain't But what else?"
 She moved aside, averting hec face.
 There is something Miss Dallasw
 "Y-e-c-S.'
 He saw she was disconcerted and strOve to put her at ease. Do you know" he said, you're so tall in that coat you almost look like heap big chief"
 She did not hear him. She was not listening The wished for opportuni ty was come. She was trying desper- ately to rally q speech. ''You-you ain't been round of late" she began at last. T hope But she could not finish.
 No" he said slowly. He rammed his hands into his trousers pockets. T haven't been around lately, but l didn't think you'd notice it." He darted a glance at her.
 "Was it dad:" she asked. Did you think
 "Yes, it was your father. I thought he went out of his way to be-well, kinda short, you know. I was only trying t be decent"
 Dads funny" she said reflectively. "Whenever we get to chuck hole, where all of us ought to pull t'gether, he goes slack on the tugs. He's like Ben that way. So l have t go up t him, stroke his mane, fix his curb and i let some cool air under his collar. After while he gives a haw-hee-haw and goes on.''
 Lounsbury did not laugh. He balk- ed when it came to me-" he said so- berly and it hurt Afterward 1 kinda got it into my head that none of you wanted me"
 She looked straight at him. But one did-one did," she whispered, chok- ing.
 He pulled his hands free of his pock- cts ''One-one," he said huskily. "Who?"
 And now everything was clear to her. She knew just what to say. She had no feelings of self. The duty was not hateful or embarrassing. "Who?' she repeated. Don't you know, Mir. Lounsbury? Why, Marylyn."
 "Marylyn,' he echoed as if in a pug gle: "Marylyn. You're joking"
 She caught a shade of reproach in that and misunderstood it. ''I reckon you won't like her so well now" she said
 Like her so well? I don't know what you mean"
 "She-she likes you," stammered Dal. | las.
 Still he was puzzled. q supposed she didn't hate me"
 But now you know"
 There was no mistUking her Utter ly dumfounded, he could not trust an immediate answer T see, I sec" he said finally.
 And you'll like her just the same?
 He drew deep breath. His eyes were on her face, trying to read it in the dimness. Then. T am not q cub boy, Miss Dallas"
 You won't stay away" she persist ed. You'll come"
 "If I'm judging right. mustn't. I'm I'm sorry"
 'SOrry-just sorry"'
 He strode back and forth few times. "Why-why, Miss Dallas, you must understand that man can't-when a girl Well. 1t d be low for me to talk about it. that's all-out and out low"
 Something stirred her powerfully then-something she combated and con cealed from him by touch of appar- ent anger. There's nothing low about It." she said "A man ought to be proud. Oh" as he was about to reply, you don't know how she's felt, She's been sick over 1t. white and sad, and at night she'd cry"
 And you're Just sorry--
 When did you find this OutT'
 ''That day you drove Matthews away. She told me"
 He walked about again. "I can't see why she does" he unused pathetically. "I cant remember doing anything"
 But you've been so good to us-even after the way dad acted-guarded out here and sent that land office man down from Bismarck"
 He made a protesting gesture. "Pshaw!"
 ''Oh, yes. you did. And why? Why? If you don't care
 \ long silence followed. During 1t she watched him. her very attitude i'm ploring. while he continued to pace. All at once he stopped determinedly. There's a reason" he said. why can't do what you ask-come to see Maryiyn and-and all that"
 bad: An. he's got to think like me"
 No. nor your father"
 'Nayle'-the bitterness of Mrs. Cumming slight impellcd it-'maybe you don't think shes good enough"
 Dallas. Ho. no He put out a hand to her.
 She retreated.
 There's q reason He let his arm fall. And fl Is fair and square. I'm proud of 1T. too. and you must hear it His tone was significant. tender. No hint of his meaning suggested it. self to her. Then I want to know it. she said
 T didn't intend to tell you- he began. cat least for awhile When was at the shack last made up ny mind 1t wouldn't do any gO0l I said tO my self. You keep quiet Bzt--he pluck ef 0T his hat and sent 1t uhirIIng to the gun-~I guess ySa'H have ts know now Dallas. the rsas0a-is y91-- ~ueg- The guesti0a was a oT- r--E---- ---s-a.E asn-.sE-- -.--