Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-10-29

he said. ITS all of me-heart, soul
and body-drowning in love-"
Don't drown l whispered to him.
II can't spare YOU"
After that we didn't say word. but
hadn't supposed IT was possible fos
any human creature to feel so seraph-
ieally happy as l did. l don't know
how long time passed before we even
spoke, but 1t seemed only minutc-a
minute stolen straight out of heaven.
And he was so handsome and dear that
would have kept that minute forever
If could, for it was impossible to be-
lieve that another could be SO per.
feet.
But by aud by it did merge into Sis
ter minutes just as good, and we began
to talk and tell each other things.
He told me again how he'd loved me
from the very first instant, and l told
him that after the day on the dock, II
not before, I'd never quite had him out
of my thoughts for moment.
''There has always been 4 sort of I'M
dertone of you," l went on, mo mat
ter what else l was thinking of, just
as, Sally says, when you are near the
sea you hear 1t through every other
sound"
He liked having me say that, and his
eyes are too glorious when he likes
things that l say.
Il loved you SO much" he answered,
''that l felt my love must have some
power over your heart. 1t couldn't go
for nothing l knew I wasn't worthy
of you, but the love was. for no man in
your own world could offer you great
er one. That's my justification for ask
ing you to put your hand in mine. But
am l asking too much? Are you sure
you won't regret anything you may
have to give up?"
There's nothing l wouldn't give up
to be with you always" l assured him.
But l don't see that l shall have to
give up much that l really care for.
We shall be poor. of course, but
shan't mind that a bit with you. We
can live in sweet little cottage some
where, can't we? Or if you have to
| be in town we shall have wee, wee
| fat, and it will be such fun looking
| only hundred times better I've new
er been rich, you know. It's always
| been rather struggle, and ever So
| many of my dresses have been made
| out of mothers or Victoria's. l shall
learn to cook and sew"
"If were so poor as all that, darling,
shouldn't be asking you to marry
me-" said Jim. I'm better off than
you think, for, as l told you, I've been
doing fairly well lately. and l guess IL
| one of us two ever has to cook it will
be l. We might have to do that some
| times, but it will only be if we're
| camping somewhere"
| Il do hope So 1t would be glo-
rious"' ! exclaimed.
I'VE can have the cottage or the fiat
all right, or maybe even both if things
go on as well as they're going now"
he said, land there's nothing on Gods
earth l won't do to make you happy.
Heavens, should think SO, after
what you're doing for me-trusting me
without knowing any more of me than
you've seen in these few weeks
I'D have trusted you to the worlds
end after the day you jumped over
board and saved the little boy. Be
sides. you were you, and I'd have
trusted you just the same if you
hadn't"
BLESS you. my angel. But think OF
the marriages you might have made
II couldn't have made more than one
at least hope not" said | fiippantly
~ could never have married any ONT
but you, so l should have had to be ar
old maid if you hadn't asked me. and
think how awful that would have
been. You don't regret asking me, dc
your
Regret? Well-it doesn't bear talk
ing of. | suppose l ought to be able t.
say that I'd meant to keep my love Il
myself, and it only sprang out on al
ungovernable impulse. But it wouldn'
be true if did. l always meant t.
ask you from the very first-though
had little enough hope, even up to to
day, that it would be anything NOR,
than friendship on your part. But, oh
how hard l did mean to try for you
My one virtue was to wait until vol
had seen enough of other men-men o
a different sort-for you to be sure 20,
didn't prefer one of them. And whel
accident had put you very near me
did manage not to lose my bead ant
speak while you were. in a way. unde