Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-12-28

1t will pass. You will find a compan.
ion in yoap aunt. You will make
friends too. And after awhile. inevita-
bly,, there will be n lover, or, rather.
lovers"
"You think my nunt will like me?"
she asked uncertainty.
How can she help it."
"You think l am. then, likeable|
81 like you"
ooh" she caught her breath, do
your
He felt himself stirred by the soft
thrill in her voice. But in some re-
spects he was the stupidest Of even his
stupid sex, and lie did not realize the
emotion her words and tone expressed.
"And IL l liked you" he tried to en-.
courage her. you'll get OF with other
people. I'm not considered a lamb.
So don't you fancy you're going to be
lonely"
"But-shall lever see your"
Surely" He felt touched by her
helpless, childlike turning to him, her
first and only friend. Il often go to
New York and Washington, where
your aunt spends her winters usually.
But" he added, a touch of pathos in
his tone, you will soon learn to get
OH without me. though / seem SO neces-
sary to you now"
She made no comment, not even a
polite protest.
You afford me many pleasant sur
prises, Eunice,' he suddenly remarked,
knocking some brambles from her
pathway with his cane. The gallantry.
instructive and unthinking with him.
but Understandable to her only through
hooks, thrilled her in a way that
would have amazed him II he had
dreamed Of 1t.
Pleasant surprisesT' she repeated
with timid questioning.
"You know l thought all along that
you were In love with Abe!'
She did not answer at once as she
walked with her eyes on the path be-
fore her.
II was aware that you paid me that
compliment" she presently spoke In a
low voice.
"For which I owe you an apology.
It was stupid of me. And very un1at-
tering to your taste. I admit"
The fact was he realized that his be-
lief in her infatuation for Abe had
been the only thing in his knowledge
Of her that had seemed to put her on
a lower plane than the n on which
as Miss Wolcott' she would hence
forth move. The discovery Of her aver
sion to the farmers son had placed her
at a bound at his side as his equal In
every sense, no longer an ignorant
country damsel to be indulgently pat
ronized by him and her aunt
"Why didn't you tell me you despised
the fellowy
"It did not seem worth while ex-
planning"
"Now, you are complimentary! You
did not care if l did think poorly of
your taste?'
She hesitated. at is not that I did
not care" she faltered. "But what you
couldn't see for yourself it didn't seem
useful to tell you"
1t occurred to him to wonder wheth-
er her slightly unusual use Of words,
which was a constant source of pleas
ure and amusement to him, would an
nov her aunt. In his opinion when
she lost it she would have lost one OF
her charms.
.Then you did care? he asked.
ssYes" she said SimDly,
"Whyw
She turned to him with a little depre
eating smile and gesture. you dissect
me so! AS though you were a scientist
and 1 a specimen. Sometimes 1t seems
to me cold blooded!"
"And you don't like it?"
at is rather interesting to hear what
you will be asking next-and what the
things are which you wish to find out
ut fatters the egotism of most wo'
men if q man asks them to talk abou
themselves"
care women more egotistic than
men? Ponder of talking about them
~selves?"
She asked it so simply, evidently
seeking only to be instructed.
"What is your own idea about it?'
he asked.
There it is notwithstanding me I'M,
til I feel myself in shreds"
They both laughed md he could not
drag his eyes from the sweetness o1
her face when she smiled.
do you know" she said %amusinglv.
81 have often wondered when Abe has
protested to me Of his love- and wher
I have read of it, what it is like. j
have never loved any one. There
seems to be a distinction between low
and affection. Affection is said to bt
much milder. l don't even know wha'
it is to feel affection"
The confession seemed almost ap
palling.
Suddenly she stopped short in tin
path and looked at him. Cali my life,
she said earnestly, II have had a hear
hunger that l have never understood
l did not know what it was l hun
gered and thirsted for-and what the
great waste places in my soul meant
But now-I believe" she hesitated. {
troubled light in her eyes, as though
she CROPPED in dark %confusion; Il be
lieve begin to understand. Ihi!
strange feeling have had toward you
ever since you first came here-eyel
before we had yer spoken together
l - L. c1~%