The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-10-24

spoil our happiness, then, by talking
about it. We will just feel it-just be
it."
She laid her head upon Jacks knee.
He placed his arm lightly but pro-
tectingly over her shoulder. They sat
in Silence listening to the Mexican's
love song. Finally Jack bent over the
whispered gently in Ter ear:
Softly, SO the Thunder Bird won't
hear, Echo; tell me you love me; that
you love only me; that you will al
ways love me, no matter what shall
happen; hat you never loved, until
I you loved me-"
Echo sat upright, with a start. What
do you mean?" she exclaimed. "Of
course I owe you, and you only, but
the future and the past are beyond our
control. Unless you know of some-
thing that is going to happen which
may mar our love, your question Is
silly, not at all like your Mother Goose
nonsense-that was dear. And as for
the past, you mean Dick Lane"
Eyes, l mean Dick Lane" confessed
Payson, in a subdued tone. Il AMI
Jealous of him-that is-of even his
memory
THAT Is not like Jack Payson. What
has Oil ONcI yOu IL . IA ilh
of your Thunder Bird. You know what
my feeling was for Dick Lane, n
what it Is, for it remains the anne, the
only difference being that now 1 know
it never was love. Even If 1t were, he
Is dead, and I love you, Jack, you
alone. Oh, O you shame me by fore
ing me to speak of such things! I
have tried to put poor Dick out of my
mind, for every time I think of him 1t
is with a wicked joy that he is dead,
that he cannot come home to claim me
as his wife. oh, Jack, Jack. I didn't
think 1t of you'll"
And the girl laid her face within her
hands on her lovers knee n burst
into a fit of sobbing.
Jack Payson shut his teeth.
"Well, since I have lowered myself
so far in your esteem, and since your
mind is already SHINING against Dick
Lane, we might as well go on and settle
this matter. I promise I will not men,
ton 1t again. But I, too, have troubles
of the mind. / am as I am, and you
ought to know 1t. I said I was jeal-
GUS of Dick Lanes memory. 1t is more.
l am Jealous of Dick a himself. II
he should return, would you leave me
and go with him-as his wife,"
= Again she sat upright. By a strong
} effort she controlled her sobbing.
The man I admired does not deserve
an answer, but the child he has proved
l himself to be and whom 1 cannot help
loving, shall have 1t. Yes, IL Dick Lane
returns true to his promise I shall be
( true to NINE"
She arose and went into the house.
. Payson rode homeward through the
| starlight resolved of tormenting doubt
only to be consumed by %torturing jeal-
5 ousy. He now a no thought of con-
l flding in Jim Allen. He regretted that
[ he a touched so dangerously near
> the subject of Dick Lanes return In
, talking to Bud and Polly. His burning
4 desire was to be safely married to
Echo Allen before the inevitable re-
| turn of her former lover.
| Fool that 1 was not to ask her one
more question: Would she forgive her
!, husband where she would not forgive
her lover? What will she think of me
9 when all is discovered, as 1t surely viii
r be? Well, I must take my chances
Events will decide"
On his return to Sweetwater Rancf
|. he put the place in charge of his new
1 foreman, S%agebrush Charlie, and Wen
out to a hunting-cabin he had built
: in the Tortilla mountains. Here he
E fought the problem over with his con-
g returned. fixed in his decision to sup
i press Dick Lanes letter, and to &C
e ahead with the marriage.