The Washington herald., 1907-02-10

I LiOus fftttd thtttfiS dh 1lbiits 9iit ; II iie-
tie Eighty, that's all
That's what l used to think" AT re-
turned gloomily But I'm convinced now
/ that she really shrinks from a marriage
with me / suppose she doesn't love
me as she thought she did when We be
/ came engaged
/ Charlie shook his head. ooh. no. ALI,
you're mistaken; she's wrapped up in
/ you"
Looks like it, ALI laughed, sarcas-
tioaIIv. This is the third time she's
/ backed out. declaring she was not ready
when the day doomed close / haven
wanted to hurry her. I know a girl
/ gives no a good deal when she marries-
But a fellow with nobody. and never a
/ home to remember, naturally thinks con-
siderable of having a home Of his own,
| especially, with a little wife that's
] just" he broke of for an instant, then
went on: I'm able to provide for her In
/ The style she's accustomed to OF / would
not have asked her TO marry me. II We
are ever TO be married there's no use in
waiting longer II she's found that she
/ cares for some
None Of that, AIf,' Charlie inter
rupted. "Retta dirts a little, but that's
all. Have you told her how seriously
you regard the postponement2'
No. and I'm not going to, either, All
declared. sulkily.
Some one should. She"
Some one shouldn't. and shan't." All
said, iercely. NO girl is going To be
coerced into marrying me! 1 suppose If
I bawled around and raised great rack
/ ct, she would give in. But Wen never be
married until she's perfectly willing,
without outside pressure. I'll get ont Of
the way for while, and let her have a
chance 10 find herself-won't even write
to her, I've Influenced her too much,
maybe"
Charlie Sill shook his head, but Of
fered no further remonstrance, merely
asking: In what direction are you going
70 perambuIate. and when?"
oh. down Panama way. and as soon
as I can fix my business 10 leave il, and
that won't take many days"
Charlie whistIed Not going in for an
engineering job in that sickly hole,
hope2"
Il may find job when I get there, but
I'm going foot loose I've always been
interested in the big ditch scheme TN
be a diversion TO examine 1t 1T close
range
And Re-ta-~ Charlie began
III tell RetJl and leave her free 10
find herself, as ] said. And I don't want
any one 10 mterfere-to say one word TO
indueuce--
They passed around the corner OF the
house on the way 10 the gate. and Retta
sank Imply UPON a bench. She had been
too startled 10 move az first and thon
perceived the impossibility Of revealing
her presence. Il was eavesdropping, but
she was not thinking of that-nor Of the
cTrand 10 Aunt Anna, that had brought
her across lots through the rose arbor.
The finding Of herself had come with a
/ suddenness that shook her breaJhleSs as
she listened. She had not realized before
how much her happiness depended upon
All and ATS faithful love- nor how very
dearly she loved him
Poor fellow. she sighed tCnderly. wip-
Ing her eyes. Poor feII,-how selfish I've
been, when / knew he never had a home
and how he IS looking forward 10 one Of
his own. He's such a hom,-body, and
I've been cheating him. keeping him IN
lodgings when be hates il so-and-and,
when I want-yes. / do-only I'm such a
nyaWay, 1 do want 10 make Tie dear boy
q home. And he's going of toto
Where is Panama way? a sickly hole
Charlie called it. On, he mustn't, He
mustn't"
She fed home, into the library. and be
gan IL search for information concerning
Panama-way. "a search that was some
what hindcred by her linking the tive
words. But by the aid of the encyclopedia
the physical geography. and magazine ar
ticIes. she soon acquired mere knowledge
of the country than her Crstwhile board
inE-school teacher would have deemed
possible. Tor Rettas strong point WAS not
learning. She was just a sweet little girl
wouaniy and tender. with "A careless
shrinking from responsibility, engendered
by her entire freedom from such. But
now her heart was aroused. and she was
aEhast with horror al the idea OF All. heI
own All. going down Panama-Wdy 10 en-
dure an sorts Of tOTments and dangers
and finally die of the dreadful fevers- He
should not, He should nOtl She would
prevent it somehow. and it must be done
at once, for lie would be making arrange
ments TO leave his business-even this
minute. perhaps.
She rushed away TO consult her mother
but that good lady, being deeply engrossed
IN some charitable function. was out in
definitely, and Retta. feeling no time
could be wasted. determined TO act for
herself Perhaps if she had had the adj
vice of an older head she would have been
less precipitate and irrevocable in Ter
actions.
I'm moving a clean swath-burning
my ships behind me. - she commented con
fusedly, in the middle of a tempestuously
busy afternoon. in which she did some
very unusual and unconventional things
L suppose il does look curious To them
II suppose the bride-to-be's mother is
usually to the fore, and the b-to-b- hangs
back in blushing confusion-but / can
wait on mamma when Alf's getting ready
this very minute for Panama way, I've
! got to fix it so there's no getting out of it
and leave me a rag of-and ] don't care
much if they do stare-and I guess I'm
sure of dear old All.
Yet she was Il bit anxious as she
. waited in a convenient SPOT for wdyldy-
2 ing him as he left his Office-if-if Alt
were bent and determined on Panama way
she would be in n pretty predicamentl
= She whipped around the corner. appar-
/ emily ObliviOUs of him until she almost
Ic0I,ided with him. Then her heart sank
at his grave and formal apology. He had
b been more deeply hurt and offended than
Inc had shown the evening before when she
had insisted on a further postponement
{ but she must She caught her breath
as he said coldly:
} Il am glad 70 have met you; it will save
my coming up this evening to tell you
And I'm glad to have met you" she
! broke in. laughing nerVOusly. I want tC
2 tell YOU that Twelve changed my mind
: All"
Changed your mind" he repeated