The Democratic advocate., 1908-05-15

Elsie gave a 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 flash. 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. e
''It 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
endless stretch of prairie lawn before
them.
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"
81 am, perfectly. For two years I've
been teaching in district school down
here"
"In the name of heaven, vhy?" de-
manded Gilbert.
But Elsie would not let her hand be
forced. She must know first how the
game was to end.
"It 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 it
that Elsie longed to throw her arms
about him and to tell him that she
lnew-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
heartv' exclaimed Gilbert, noticing the
tears in her eyes. GIVE no kick COM
ing over the law business. Am 1 not
healthy brute again? What else counts
beside that?''
The joy that leaped in Elsie's heart
as Gilbert spoke these words sent the
color flying to her cheeks. That Gil
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" answered Gill
bert thoughtfully. He was pacing up
and down the porch now. 'You see,
I've been out of it now for over two
years, and it would take some time to
get into the running again. Down
here I'm making my way far better
than I hoped. I think there's a big
chance for success. And Pm we'll
here-gloriously WELL" He stopped
speaking a moment, then added, look
ing wistfully into the little home and
lowering his voice: ''The hardest thing
is having my sister go back. She's to
be married this fall, you know. She's
been q brick"
Emotion checked his further speech.
The next moment, with little bro
ken sob, Elsie was in his arms, and
the lovers gave themselves up to tie
ecstasy of their emotions.
Suddenly Gilbert held her at arms
length from him, nearly crushing her
slender hands in the agony of his re-
nunciation.
''No, Elsie" he said hoarsely. Il can
not, I will not let you. have no
right. 1t would be asking you to sac
rifce too much for me. You would
die Of ennui down here."'
But Elsies eyes were shining; her
face was radiant with happiness.
"You forget, DEAR" she said gently,
"that I've made it my country, too
that I have no sacrifice to make. You
are my all. Besides" she added
roguishly, "it's leap year, and you've
no right to refuse me, Gilbert"