Gloucester County Democrat., 1907-07-11
black and yellow woodpecker ham

motif. You seem to be living thing
a bit of nature ITSELF
TITS my holiday-my playtime-and
If I bubble over with nonsense you
must lay it to exuberance Of spirit.
really have serious side but don't
want to use it while I'm here. When
| you leave, try to forget the nonsense l
have talked. I'm truly ashamed of 1t !"
I'm going to remember every bit of
IT, he avowed sturdily. Il want to
Keep my touch of boyhood. I wonder
how much daring and recklessness you
have in your disposition" Ills face lit
up with a sudden thought
"Heaps, quantities, and 1t has been
smoldering for seven monotonous years.
Ive been in office until feel like a
latter day Vesuvius. I'm longing for
something big and real and exciting to
happen"
"Let's make something happen" he
suggested eagerly "You don't know
me except as you see me. l don't
know you except from the vivid i'm
preston of the joy of living that you
have flashed upon my rather listless
brain. I'd like to keep the touch that
knowing you has added to me. Sup
pose you marry me?" he finished alb
ruptly.
The mass of flowers fell from her
lap to the ground. you are certainly
the most primitive manr' she gasped.
ssDo you realize that we are absolute
strangers to each other-that you may
be a professional burglar for all that
know and that | have a 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 mlrth.
..Think of your longing to do some
thing unusual" be urged. 'Ay propo-
sition ought to prove attractive from
that standpoint at least"
1T has its attractive features
hesitatingly. Marriage IS something
my usually intrepid spirit has never
dared. I've always been afraid the
man would prove not to be the right
man. I have lately become resigned to
the opinion that there is no right man
for me. Ny affinity has so far failed
to materialize."
81 don't know much about affinities
That's another thing that was left out
of my curriculum. But do know that
you appeal to me. like this breezy
mountain air like the crisp rustic of
the leaves, like the stiffness of these
woods. can't take all that to the city
with me, but you are part Of it all,
part of the JOY Of living. You radiate
It. VIII you dare come with me?'
she leaned forward and looked him
steadfastly in the eye. sI'll dare" she
said finally. Il also have reached the
point when | ask What does it mat
ter? viii come-if you want me-
He heIG out both nsnds, ana she put
hers into them unhesitatingly.
"And you are going to risk it-with-
out knowing whether l am a profes-
sional burglar or a cab driver?" he
quizzed jeyously.
ssThat makes it more Of an adven-
ture. If stayed in Office year long
er l would risk going over Niagara
falls in a barrel to see if / couldn't ex-
perience an emotion. You aren't q cab
driver, though"-she noted the careful
" tailored suit he wore-"and | don't
think you are a bartender or floor
walker"
DO you think you would like to live
on a ranch?" The hope that she would
was plainly expressed.
Love it," emphatically. "Are you a
cowboy perhaps?"
mot exactly own the ranch
He showed the first touch of embar-
rassment 81 know you would never
guess it. l couldn't acquire polish if /
lived ages, but the boys would send me
here I'm a new senator from the
wild and woolly vest
She lost her vivid color and tried to
take her hands from his.
"And I've treated you like school
boyl1 she gasped. Il have guyed you,
teased you. / never would have treated
a senator sol' her voice Mortified
whisper.
II liked it." he said simply, refusing
TO let the hands be taken away. g
liked it-immensely.'
'sThe foolishness and-all?" her color
returning with doubled brilliancy.
1.-THE foolishness and all" softly.
She looked at him accusingly. Maybe
you are rich too?" She appeared hope
less of fresh surprises and willing to
believe anything.
"Yes, but that's not considered just
cause for forbidding marriage"
She let her hands rest passiyely, her
serious side for once uppermost.
81 can't understand" she said slowly,
why you should care to risk it, why
you should want me, 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 at
tractive to me because there was SO
little that / could ask or lose. DO you
really want me?"
He stood on his feet and, taking her