The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1908-03-11
Without one thought of me?"

Without thought of me9'
| did not speak How could | answer this pet
ted, spoiled darling of fortune, who had never been
denied anything in all her life? Taking her hand
in mine-the upon which she wore my little
pledge of love, | kissed it; it had grown loose
upon her finger My heart smote me. had in
tended to ask for it, to save her the pain of re-
storing it, could not do it, Slipping it back and
forth upon her finger gravey, thoughtfully, real
lied that l had made all of my calculations with
out considering Dorothy. That she should suffer
from the changed conditions had never seriously
occurred to me. l shocked by the change APP
parent in her fragile hand and realized that the
heroic treatment which might bear could not be
endured perhaps, by Dorothy. The sudden wrench
| had planned could not be thought OF at present.
Time and diversion must be relied upon to bring
about the change in our attitude toward each
other at least her attitude toward
AS we sat silent, our hearts reached out for each
other. We We're drawn closer together. We seemed
to understand each the other without words; she
the first to speak,
Sweetheart, have seemed forward tonight? !
have meant to be From my own heart, |
understand yours; all of the trials and difficulties
which beset you. We have loved each other since
we were babies. You have never asked me to b
Your wife, butt always knew that you meant to
do so;-and always meant 10 be your wife, some
day. 1t would have broken my heart if you had
loved anyone else, just as it would have broken
yours if had loved another:-and-"
And now, dear, everything is changed can't
ask you now, because-because, dear Dorothy,
am not ready to take care of wife;-and-be
cause am not willing to ask you to wait for
me;-to leave the bloom and the freshness OF
your youth waiting,-for me; you don't know, you
can't imagine. dear Dorothy, how hard this is. III
nothing had happened, you might have been mine
now
Il understand sweetheart | appreciate your
position and-and l don't intend to embarrass
you in any way, only ask one thing: let me be
your comrade;-your best friend,-your""
Don't say it, Dorothy, | wanted you once for
my sister. but Nam Chloe told me it would never
do in the world, and it wouldn't.
''YOu don't for sister? Neither do
want to be your sister. We are agreed. But we
are to be friends?'
Yes. the best of friends.
And YOU are to come to me with all of your
troubles, and hopes, and ambitions
Yes. and in return you promise to marry the
very first man that asks you;-if you really and
truly love him: and-
IF he take care of me-?
NO: many a man able TO take care OF you will
want you 1t must be only the one whom you
really and truly love.
"I'll agree to that, one condition.
Don't make it too hard
1t ought to be easy.
Name it-but be mercfu
lin order to spare you the burden OF an old
maid on your mind, 1 promise to marry the first
man that asks me,-if | really and truly love
him.-on short notce-providlng you promise TO
let me know the very first moment that you find
Yourself able to take of wife-eren in the inieSt
lree bit of an apartment: that is, give me chance
is it bargain?
WELL yes,-provided you are not too quick
about falling in love 1t will take me a little time,
YOU know. to get over loving Nou.--or--or-to get
a settled salary sufficient for such emergency;
and find an apartment and furnish it, and all that.
Ii seems to me we should set sort OF
limit
81 am agreed. Say within YEAR,
The very tnest apartments?