The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1908-05-28

yes" he answered loyalty; sI d.
love 1t. 1t has given me back my life"
To Elsie it seemed as if her heart
must cry out and demand the whole
truth.
DO you mean that you are really
well and strong again or merely that
you are grateful just to be alIve?. was
the question that begged to be asked.
but she forced it back relentlessly.
Gilbert himself broke the tense al.
lence between them.
.'See, there's the shack" he said JOY
ously, indicating the little gray bunga-
low set cozily in its frame Of orchard
green.
Elsie gave CRY of delight put her
horse TO the gallop and rode straight
and fast toward the open door.
The rest of that light hearted, sun
filed day passed like fash. At the
end of it, however, came the inevita-
BILE moment when confidence and the
exchange of mutual experiences and
future hopes would no longer be denied
expression.
Gilbert watched Elsie's dark head
resting against the vine covered post
as she sat on the low steps Of the
porch, and his heart bounded toward
her in a mighty yearning.
1T is time now to tell me where YOU
| have been these two long years, Elsie.
| Don't you think SOP
Elsie continued looking out on the
1 ctr fol, If s-so
| them.
Right here" she said at last. sigh
| ing happily.
"Here?' questioned Gilbert in amaze
ment.
'Well, in Texas" Elsie amended
teasingly.
please be serious, Elsie"
Il am, perfectly. For two years I've
been teaching in a district school down
| here"
I'm the name OF heaven, whyY' de-
manded Gilbert.
But Elsie would not let her hand be
forced. She must know first how the
game was to end.
ut is my turn to ask a question:"
she said. "You have succeeded here
wonderfully, haven't you, GilbertY
AS he looked down at her his smile
had so much pride and pathos in it
that Elsie longed to throw her arms
about him and to tell him that she
knew-she understood.
Pretty WELL" he admitted, ''for a
perverted young lawyer"
Don't" begged Elsie. 81 can't bear
to hear you speak like that"
'Why, bless your sympathetic LITTLE
hearth exclaimed Gilbert, noticing tn,
tears in her eyes. ''I've no kick com
) ing over the law business. Am I not (
: healthy brute again? What else count:
!, beside that?"
, The joy that leaped in Elsie's hear
, as Gilbert spoke these words sent tn
color flying to her cheeks. That Gil
, bert might not observe her agitation
+ she jumped up and pretended to b
training a vagrant honeysuclzle vine.
"But if you are really well again
you'n go back to law, won't your"
Perhaps, some time" answered Gil
J bert thoughtfully. He was pacing VI
; and down the porch now. you see
| I've been out of it now for over tw,
| years, and it would take some time Il
get into the running again. Dow
: here I'm making my way far bette
: than I hoped. l think there's a bis
: chance for success. And I'm wei
here-gIoriously we'll" He stopped
speaking a moment, then added, look
ing wistfully into the little home and
5 lowering his voice: 1.-THE hardest thing
r is having my sister go back. She's tt
r be married this fall, you know. She's
| been q brick"
Emotion checked his further speech.
: The next moment, with q little bro
ken sob, Elsie was in his arms. and
the lovers gave themselves up to the
ecstasy Of their emotions.
: Suddenly Gilbert held her at arms
length from him, nearly crushing hel
slender hands In the agony of his re
nunciation.
mo, Elsie" he said hoarsely, 81 can.
not, / will not let you. / have nc
right. It would be asking you to sac
rifice too much for me. You would
die of ennui down here"
But Elsies eyes were shining; bel
face was radiant with happiness.
You forget, DEAR she said gently
; that I've made 1t my country, too
, that have no sacrifice to make. Yol
, are my all. Besides" she added
roguishly, ''its leap year, and you'y'
: no right to refuse me, Gilbert" -,