The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-04-12

Tel me you don f
"what right have you to ask me such
a question:"
"Only the right that my love for you
gives me, dear heart. You must have
known / loved you even though I've
never said 1t before. I love you. Dal-
las, though till today, think, never
realized how much. Tell me II isn't
true that you're going to marry Gibbs"
even II It weren't true should not
marry you. Alwyn."
"Ahr'
The exclamation was wrung unconr
sciously from bis whitening lips. II
was as though q pang Of physical pain
had pierced him. ss
II wouldn't marry you." went on
Dallas, though tnore gently, "because
you don't really love me-" aFaf.,.
, Il do! do! With my whole heart.
r. s3t
"Oh, Alwynr she exclaimed with al.
most mother.like tolerance. what a
child you. arel What mere child
Some one tries to take away from you
a plaything you've grown used to havr
ing, You never cared especially about
the plaything before; but. now that
you're In danger Of losing It. you cry
out: oh, | love iti I love itr You'll
soon find another toy that'il make you
forget
Dallas, you are unfairi You have
no right to treat my love for You 81
if"--
"As IL 1t were a mere whimf Isn't
IT? Now. don't say NO but look me
In the eyes and answer one question.
II Scott Gibbs hadn't proposed to me-
II that paragraph had not appeared In
the paper would you have come here
today and told me you loved mef No.
You know you wouldn'tr
Don't talk like that, dear!'' implored
Bennett. Il tell you \ love youl More
than ever dreamed woman could be
loved. love you! f1"--
There's an easy way to prove 1t.
then"
"What way1 Anything
'By doing something to make me
feel proud Of you. don't feel so now.
could not marry man who loiters
his life away--a man who sits idle
while others are thronging past him in
the upward climb. You are rich
thanks to your fathers efforts. What
have you done with that wealth? II
you've done no harm with 1t you've al
least put 1t to no good use. You are
young, talented, highly educated
What have you done with your youth,
your talents. your education? How
have you used them for your own bet
terment or for your fellow men'si
What have you to offer me? Money
Social position? l have plenty Of both
! What else can you offer met Nothing
absolutely nothing"
my love. for one thing. l can offel
you that"
4 'Tn what Is your love better thar
any other mans? Behind 1t is mo-
a record Of hard work, OF self sacrifice
| Of achieyement--of any Of the thing
that 60 toward making love strong ant
| enduring and beautiful-to make 1t
support that woman can lean on foI
| life? What have you to 0ffer me o.
any other woman%
There was silence. Yet when Ben
! nett spoke there was new note II
his voice--a ring Of awakening strength
that impressed Dallas in spite Of her
self--that sent a wholly strange thrill
through her and set her heart to beat
ing with unwonted quickness.
"You are right" said he. 4 hav'
done nothing. rye been content to b.
rich mans son, and I've nothing t
offer that is worthy your acceptance
but that does not mean ! never shal
have. And. by the grace Of God
shall! You've put things in a new light
! see them as / never did. 1t isn't |
wholly pleasant experience, but I'll
good for me. There's nothing yet tina
I'm fitted to do, but I'll find:something
never fear. And when / do"-
Don't say there's nothing you're d
for" protested Dallas. There's moth
ing you couldn't accomplish IL ono
you set yourself to 1t. Why, just thinl
Of those speeches you made for MT
Lorimer last campaign. They wer'
fine. / was so'-
"Oh, those amounted to nothing.
lust did IT to 0blige him. And, be
sides, it was fun to sway the crowds
"Thafs just It. You did it for ful
and for friend. Why not do some
thing in earnest and for yourself? Tn
world is fairly bristling with oppor
tunities for such a man as you. Grasl
those opportunities. Won't you2"
Eyes! And when do-is there an.
hope that you Will?'
Il have given Mr.. Gibbs no promise
told him to walt"
4 "Then my chance is as good as hif
From now on | am going to drop th
| role Of rich mans son and be some
thing Oh my own account II you hay
| faith III me-if you believe in mel
there is ghost Of chance that yol
can some day love me-
Il have faith in you, Alwynp 81
answered softly, letting her hand i