The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1908-05-27

ayes" be answered loyalty; II do
love It. II has given me back my lIfe."
To Elsie It seemed as II 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 alive7" was
the question that begged to be asked.
but she forced It back relentlessly.
Gilbert himself broke the tense ST.
lence between them.
"See, there's the shack" he said joy
low set cozily In Its frame Of orchard
green.
Elsie gave cry Of delight. put her
horse to the galiop 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 1t, 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 EIsle'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.
at is time now to tell me where you
have been these two long years. Elsie.
Don't you think so?" ys
| Elsie continued looking out on the
endless stretch Of prairie lawn before
them, ~-es
fright here.' she said at last, sigh.
ing happily.
"Here?" questioned Gilbert in amaze.
ment.
"well. in Texas" Elsie amended
teasingly.
"Please be serious. Elsie"
"I am, perfectly. For two years I've
been teaching in district school down
here" xEaf
"In the name Of heaven, whyr' de-
manded Gilbert.
But Elsie would not let her hand be
forced She must know first how the
game was to end.
at is my turn to ask a question"
she said. you have succeeded here
wonderfully, haven't you, Gilbert%
AS he looked down at her his smile
had so much pride and pathos In 1t
that Elsie longed to throw her arms
about him and to tell him that she
lsnew-she understood.
pretty WE'LL 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 the
tears in her eyes. ''I've no kick COM
ing over the law business. Am net a
healthy brute again? What else counts
beside thatT'
The joy that leaped in Elsie's heart
as Gilbert spoke these words sent the
color flying to her cheeks. That Gill
bert might not observe her agitation
she jumped up and pretended to be
training a vagrant honeysuckle vine.
But If you are really well again
you'll go back to law, won't you?" -
"Perhaps. some time" alssIered GIL
bert thoughtfully. Re was pacing uI
and down tie porch now. "You see
I've 5een out of it. now for over two
I years, and 1t would take some time t.
get into the running again. Dowr
here I'm making my way far bettel
than ! hoped. | think there's a bis
chance for success. And I'm wei
here-gloriously WELL" He stopped
speaking moment. then added, look
ing wistfulys into the little home ant
lowering his voice: "The hardest thing
is having my sister go back. She's t.
be married this fall, you know. She!
: been brick"
Emotion checked his further speech.
The next moment, with little bro
ken sob, Elsie was in his arms, ant
the lovers gave themselves up to thu
} ecstasy of their emotions.
} Suddenly Gilbert held her at arm,
length from him, nearly crushing he
slender hands in the agony of his re
nunciation.
mo, Elsie" he said hoarsely, 81 can
not, | will not let you. / have NJ
right. 1t would be asking you to sac
rifice too much for me. You would
die of ennui down here"
But Elsies eyes were shining; he
face was radiant with happiness.
you forget, DEAR" she said gently
"that I've made it my country, too
that have no sacrifice to make. Yo'
are my all. Besides" she adde's
roguishly. "it's leap year, and you'v
no right to refuse me Gilbert"