The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1908-09-18

"Yes," he answered loyalty; 81 do
| hove 1t. 1t has given me back my ilfe."
To Elsie it seemed as If 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 alive?" 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
ously, indicating the little gray bunga-
low set cozily ia its frame of orchard
green.
Elsie gave 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
filled day passed like q fash. At the
end Of 1t, however, came the inevita-
bic 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 mighty yearning.
1T 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.
Right here" she said at last, sigh
ing happily.
"Here?" questioned Gilbert in amaze
ment.
"Well, in Texas" Elsie amended
teasingly.
please be serious, Elsie"
II am, perfectly. Far two years I've
been teaching in q district school down
here"
I'm the name Of heaven, why?" de-
manded Gilbert.
But Elsie would not let her hand be
forced. She must know first how the
| game was to end
ut is my turn to ask 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
knew-she understood.
pretty WE'LL" he admitted, "for q
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 l not a
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 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" answered Gil
bert thoughtfully. He was pacing up
and down the porch now. you see,
| I've been ont 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 hoped. think there's q big
chance for success. And I'm well
here-gloriously we'll" He stopped
speaking moment, then added, look
ing wistfully into the little home and
lowering his voice: 1.-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 the
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.
mo, Elsie" he said hoarsely, 81 can
| not, will not let you. l have no
right. 1t would be asking you to sac
rifice too much for me. You would
die Of ennui down here"
But oElsie's eyes were shining; her
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. You
are my all. Besides" she added
roguishly, "it's leap year, and you've