The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1907-03-29

ert has splendid opportunities for a
young man. I wish he could get up
his courage to ask Margaret to marry
him. 1t means so much to her. You
can't guess, Jim, how dearly she loves
him. Only a woman un derstands
such things
81 believe she does care" sighed
Shelton, "but he hasn't got sense
enough to see it. 1t seems strange to
me that big, strong man like Robert,
who wouldn't hesitate to risk his life
to another, is afraid to propose to the
slip OF a girl. Several times that ]
know of be has been On the very verge
of asking her by saying I came over
tonight, to tell you'-and he has al
ways finished by expressing his opin,
ION on the wheat crop, or giving her
the interesting information that his
mother had new Matching of chick.
ems"
He threw back his head, and grad.
ually, as the fatigue of the days hard
work spread over him, he was lulled
by the clicking of his wite's needles.
When his labored breathing sounded,
at regular intervals, through the
room, Mrs. Shelton rose, and taking a
shawl from the lounge, spread it over
the sleeper's knees. Then she folded
her knitting, and laying it away in
the table drawer, opened book to
read, but often her eyes drifted over
the edge of the pages and rested on
her husbands face.
"Poor mani" she murmured once; Il
bet he wishes that Margaret was a
little child again, and he could keep
her forever"
The wind howled arc und the house
and ratified the shutter that had been
left unfastened. The hired girl finish
ed her work and labored wearily up
stairs to bed; but the man dreamed on
unconscious of the flight of time. 1t
was only when the monotonous voice
of the old clock began groaning out
the hour that he aweke, with start
from his sleep. He glanced at bis
wife and looked questioningly at the
clock.
"Still here" Mrs. Shelton nodded.
Shelton rose to his feet and there
was light in his eyes that had been
born one day, years ago, when he
found that he was to have compan
ion on lite's road.
"Amy," he said wistfully, 81 had
such a strange, sweet dream. l
thought you and were young again'
and were planning for the future
Every hope I had seemed to spring
from you; all my ambition was cen
tered III YOU. It made me know that
I have been selfish man in wanting
to have Margaret near me all my
days. 1t taught me how barren q
thing life is where love is not"
He folded the shawl tenderly and
laid it down upon the table; then he
took step towards the pa rler. His
wife looked at him with wondering
eyes.
81 am going," he explained, "to hint
to Robert how lonely he will be wher
he puts forty miles between him ano
here.''
He crossed the room, and throwing
open the cor, stopped short upon the
threshold. Robert was preparing te
leave. He had been making a frantic
search for his gloves, and had just dis
covered they were on his hands. II,
stood in the middle Of the room, un
conscious of Shelton's presence, shut
fling from one foot to tn e other. HI
had made two attempts to speak thai
had ended in only downcast eyes ane
brilliant bushes.
II came here, onight," he finally
blurted out, "to tell-to tell you tina
THAT I'm going away tomorrow.
Margaret's face went pale, then th'
blood snrged into it and dyed it Grim
son. The little hands clenched ant
unclenched in the intensity OF he
emotion, but suddenly she beat dow
her womanly pride and revealed he
womanly soul.
mo Robert ;" she cried. you di
not come to say that-you told m
that last night You came to sa,
you loved me, to ask me to be you
wife. l love you, and If"
, A bashful young man became yer
bold one and crossed the room wit
extended arms, and the confession wa
, finished ag ainst his heart.
, Shelton closed the door noiselessly
and stole away, cong ching hoarsely t.