The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-11

woman / ever saw who would not make
jarrng note ia the general motif. You
seem TO be d living thng-a bit Of nature
itself"
It's my boliday-my playtime; and if
I bubble over with nonsense, you must
lay it to eXuberance OF spirit. / really
have "a serious side-but ! don't want TO
use it while I'm here. Vixen you leave,
try to forget the nonsense have talked.
I'm truly ashamed Of it,"
Pm going 20 remember every bit of
it," he avowed sturdiIy. 81 want to keep
my touch of boyhood I wonder how
much daring and recklessness you have
IN your disposition" His face lit up with
a sudden thought.
Heaps -quantities-an il has been
smOlderiuE for seven monOtOnous years
/ I've been IN Office until 1 feel Ike a latter
day Vcsuvius. I'm longing for something
/ big. and real, and exciting TO happen
Lets make something happen" ae sug-
/ gested eagerly. You don't know me-
except as YOU see me. I don't know you
except from the vivid impression Of the
+ Joy Of living that you have flashed upon
/ my rather Hstless brain. I'd like to keep
the touch that knowing you has added 20
me-suppOse you marry me?' he finished
/ abruptly
/ The mass OF flowers fell from her lap
I To the ground. You are certainly the
most primitive man. she gasped. DO
YOU realize that we are absolute strangers
/ 20 each other; that you may bee pro-
/ fessional burglar for all that 7 know,
and that ] may have r. mother that would
prove an awful mOther-in-law?' Her eyes
were wide open with wonder. but the
/ corners of her mouth were full Of miTth.
Think of your longing to do some
/ thing unusual he urged. My prOp0-
sition ought 10 prove attractive from
/ that standpoint. at least
1T has its attractive feature
hesitatiugly. Marriage is something my
usually intrepid spirit has never dared.
/ I've always been afraid the man would
prove not 10 be the right man. ! have
/ lately become resigned 10 the opinion that
/ there is no right man for me- M
affinity has so far failed % matcrialize."
/ I don't know much about afiinitics.
] That's another thing that was Left out
of my curriculum. But I do know that
/ you appeal O. me, like this breezy noun
| tain air like the crisp rustic OF the
/ leaves like the stiffness of these woods.
/ I can't take all that 10 the city with
me. but YOU are a part of il all. part
/ VIII you dare come with me-"
She leaned forward and looked him
/ steadfastly IN the eye. III dare" she
said. finally. Il also have reached the
point when I ask. What does 1t natter
I viii come. if YOU want me-
{ He held ont both hands. and she put
/ hers into them unhesitatingIy.
And you are going TO risk it-without
knowing whether I am a professional
( burglar or a cab driver?' he quizzed.
jOy0usly.
THAT makes Z more Of an adventure.
If I stayed In office q year longer I would
risk going over Niagara Falls In a barrel
TO see If I couldn't experience an emotion.
/ You aren't a cab driver. though she
noted the carefully tailored suit he wore.
! And I don't think you are a bartender
or a foOrwaIker'
DO YOU think you would like 70 live
on rauch?' The hope that she would
was plainly expressed.
Love it," emphatcaily. Are you
cowboy. Perhaps
Not exactly. 7 own the ranch"
He showed the first touch Of embarrass-
ment. Il know you would never guess it.
] couldn't aquire polish if l lived ages.
but the boys would send me. I'm new
Senator from the wild and woolly West. 9"
She lost her vivid color, and tried to
take her hands from his
And I've treated YOU like a school
boy. she gasped. Il have guyed you
leased you. 1 never would have treated
a Senator So" her voice a Mortified
whisper.
Il liked it," he said simply, refusing to
let the hands be taken away. Il liked it
immensely"
THE fooIishness and-alI?" her color
LIT 4 H.
THE foolishness-and all. softly
She looked at him sccUsingly. Maybe
you are rich, too?' She appeared hope
less Of fresh surprises ard willing TO
believe anything.
Yes; but that's not considered Just
cause for forbidding marriage"
She let her hands rest passively. her
serious side for once uppermost
| I can't understand" she said slowly
/ why you should care to risk it-why YOU
should want me. q woman who never had
the opportunity To cultivate the feminine
graces that one expects from a Senator's
wife. You could ask much of the world
The risk was attractive 10 me because
there was so little that I could ask or
lose. Do YOU really want me?"
He stood on his feet. and taking her
hands drew her beside him.
Look at the mountains in the dis
tance-the valley below. Be still and
listen to the wind in the trees It's all
nature-the voice of nature. You are part
of il. You are like IT, The red of your
lips is a living touch Of Il. You feel the
spirit of the woods. You love Il as do
! Look at it. listen 10 It, and then, dear. if
you can willingly come, I want you so
very much"
The mountains were azure in the dis
lance the rustic of the leaves Gained
suddenly, the noise OF the wOodpecker
stopped, and the silence of the forest
dazed her The blood throbbed against
her temples. Her lips parted slightly
with a quick, indrawn breath.
She turned her face toward him The
primitive man saw the primitive woman
shining in her eyes, and the soft scarlet
Of her mouth Quiyered when he kissed
her.
Copyright 1907, By (. G Pa1ceuAl