Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1908-02-13
A MAYNARD FANCY.
BY Blanche Maude Haywood.

Inez Payson.
DO not joke. 1nez. about so serious a
matter" and Mrs: payson held up her
Joke. l never felt more sedate-is
not a life-important decision involved
for met" and h smiled bitterly.
How pretty Inez Payson was. Her
aunt felt her heart swell with pride as
she looked at her. Just so she had
30 years ago. She had a the
same violet eyes. full Of purple shad-
ows, the same brown hair with a CLINT
of gold in 1t. and the girl had her own
high spirit too, she sighed.
The lesson would come soon enough.
she did not want her beautiful niece to
learn too soon that life had wilder
aesses-she did not want her to COM
mt that browning folly that had
ruined her life-a love match-a quiet
affection that would stand the wear
and tear of years was best. Friend
lay ~bleedings
"Inez," she said in her soft pathetic
voice, your mother was going to say
that in all probability Mr.. Seymour will
speak to o this afternoon, and a load
would BE lifted from us IL you could
give us just = hint of what your an
swer would be-"
my answer said tan sss-l. thought
fully. and h bent ard caresced ar An
CORA cat that purred at her feet. She
had known for a long time that Tom
Seymour loved her. and h had made .
Il desperate attempt to gain time. She
had had the innumerable advantages
of such a match pointed put by them SO
often that she kne precisely What was
expected OF her.
She knew equally well how afraid
they were Of any lov passages between
her. and d~issipated. wicked Jimmy
Dale, as they called him. but still she
aniCyyo6 koopinV Thorn In Q1Nonanon so
h dallied q bit longer with the soft
fur OF the cat, and then said In q cold,
hard voice.
MY answer-will be what you ex-
pect me to say. It will be yes. and now
IL you please I will go"
She wanted to be alone, to stamp out
the present, and face her future. It
seemed TO her that all the dear old past
was gone
"And you. too. Jimmy. among the
rest" she moaned, III o had only
spoken. only showed me that you
them all. Just for your love I would
have been content TO let the world slip
by. Blu you did not speak. and now
I mean to cast all thought Of you to
the wind, and live my life as other
women live theirs and II ! ind Tom
ask me to marry him this afternoon I
shah do it-and live q great lady, all
without love-"
She looked like a wood nymph in her
green I'M white gown, as she wan
dered down to the lily pond that after
had fallen between h two. n h
almost gave a start when he sang In
full round tones:
"'oh saw ye not fair 1nez. who came
from out the West"
II always think OF sunsets and clouds
And DnvsnanHYa AHANta ywySnn II Goa Vp0R4
1nez," he said. al I wonder II that
other Inez Of the old song was half as
fair or loved one half as well as / love
you"
"You are so sweet, 20 gracious. 80
kind, that you will not daily with me.
sessions, but OF me-, them man who asks
you to be his wife. Am I worthy? Let
your heart speak. 1nez, my darling"
Are you worthy? Tom, Tom, my
dear. I am not half good enough for
one like you. An honest heart Is with
you Tom and my answer Is yes" and
she burst into tears.
Tomorrow was her wedding day, and
Inez Payson stood looking down into
the lily pond for the las time.
Pretty blossoms I wait for my story,
will the long years bring 1t such as
wish 1t to be? You nod your heads
lilies" h said. but you do not smile
up Mt me-"
Then she gave a start. and tried to
Jump back from her " bright re
Election in the water. for over her shout.
der was another face. Jimmy Dale't
face. looking down into the water q,
her.
She turned and looked straight into q
pnir of burning black eyes. The colol
slowly mounted her forehead, until II
crimsoned her face and neck, but slit
did not speak.
"Inez." he said at last. II can stand
this duel of glances no longer. Inc,
tell me that It is all a lie. that 20,
swear that this wedding shall neve,
be. With my own hands I will chok.
the life out Of our pretty white throat
rather than let you marry another. I
IL me o love. me-wicked. miserable
poor. but 9 love me-"
'Come with me now, and we viii
marry at the small church, the oil
pastor is my friend. You do not speak
you do not move-then by heaven
will compel you t6 come"
II have a little to say about that, 70,
madman." rang out Tom Seymour
space. a tall man Of gigantic mould. be
fore whom the other seemed dwarfed
and common and stood looking down q
them.
1nez Payson looked from one to tn
other, and %revulsion shook her, at las
h saw Jimmy Dale az he was
stripped Of every glamour. with tn
seal Of vice and sin upon him, an,
her pure heart cried out. ''unclean, un
clean"
II have nought to say about q fello,
who would steal an honest mans sweet
. heart right under his own nose, bu
! am here to protect this girl. II Inc
wishes to marry such az you,s an
Tom 6eyrnour's voice was full OF scorr
|, II am not the one to stand hi ~