Smyrna times., 1907-10-02
The Wall
Between.
By TROY ALLISON.
Copyrighted, 1907. by E. c. PARCELS.


81 would ask you to marry me-"
Graham said bluntly, "but 1 can't"
Her eyes dilated, but she was quick
Of wit and action, and her reply came
without a moments hesitation.
Indeed? Your attitude presupposes
that would accept yOu-if your sys-
tematic and well ordered mind had de-
cided upon the asking" ironically.
eyes, l think you would" he replied
rehectively
Angry spots blazed on Miss Fenton's
cheeks. "This is-a little too much
from even you" She gripped the arm
of her chair and leaned forward, her
blazing eyes looking closely into his.
''I have never been able to decide Just
what manner of man you are. Your
reticence, your phlegmatic temporal
ment and your crudeness are so for
eign to me that they are an unreadable
text. I've thought at times that they
might cloak either a vast amount of
intelligence and capability-or the Lack
of it. A large man like you only has
to be reticent to make the world think
he is a force to be considerable he
cared to exert himself. 1 have Won
dered at times if your retioence
masked a lack-cf original thought.
But under no circumstances had i'm
agined it hid-colOssal conceit."
Graham's powerful hands, without a
trace of the nerve tension in her own,
took from her the Japanese fan that
she was unconseiOusly tearing in
shredS.
Il am not conceited, but do think
that you would marry me-if 1 could
ask you" this in the fashion of man
of little worldly polish. He failed to
soften and explain his statement by
adding that the desire of his heart was
| to make her his wife.
She, judging without this inner
knowledge, fought as a woman will
fought to keep it from being known
that she had given her love unasked.
| Il will admit l see no foundation for
| your cOnceit" The ache in her heart
! gOaded her to merciless cruelty. How
or why should you think that a woman
of the world like myself, who has been
accustomed to comfort, If not to lux
ury, should care to marry young ply
sician without as yet practice? Per-
haps, my friend, you took stock of
your attractions They are impressive,
I'll admit. Your broad shoulders and
physique in general might also be
counted assets, but not sufficient to
balance the cOnceit that could imagine
would be content to wear homemade
gowns in order to admire them a life
time-I, who love pretty things, who
like everything as dainty as this" tax
ing her chain of pearl beads and hold
ing them before him, letting them slip
between her well manicured fingers.
She lied bravely, sitting the memory
of the little joyful plans that had for
several weeks fitted through her mind
plans for making home on his small
income when he should ask her to be
his wife.
Graham, his face pale, spoke slowly.
"Unlike myself, you are never at loss
for words, but l think you have said
more than your world would consider
courteous" ne said tersely.
Her high strung temperament had
reached a point where she gave her
nerves free rein. "As. for CARING
she leaned back in her chair and laugh.
ed recklessly-"Of course your con
ceit prevents your discovering that
had been amusing myself The sum
mer was long and dull. You were the
most available man and interesting be
cause you were-less readable than the
others. One looks with interest at
an unread book. With such explana
tiOn l hope your sorrow that you could
not decide to ask me to marry you
will not prove crushing" She rose
with little ironical smile that init
mated that she was waiting for hin
to say gOOdby.
Graham lowered above her as he rose
Marion, I'm crude, as you say, an(
I am going to tell you that absolutel!
disbelieve you. You care-as much al
/ do. I'll admit that you started on
with the intention of amusing yoursel
and that l met you halfway, thinking
that you might interest yourself ant
me at the same time. l had no ide;
| luul tllutI VI US WCulu fcdEU 10 care
But we have-both of us-and We
4 there is a barrier preventing my ask
ing you to marry me-a wall betweel
and l don't know that I'll ever b
! able to get over it,
She smiled whimsically with tn
= sudden change Of mood characteristi
of her.
"Tell me about it. I'm full Of curios
=. ity. Is it much of wall. and wha
kind?'
''I'm not at liberty to tell, but it's
rather hard one to scale"
"Glass on tOp?" laughter comm
back to her face.
"Figuratively speaking, lots Of 4
Are you a child or a woman. Marion
that you jump from one mood to al
other this wayY'
"More of a barometer, suppos'
4