The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1909-11-03

@N.eA-
"Shc's in lone ptth him. tell you she's
IN loUe aUith him"
shut off with the heavy hall doors, was
the lighted house. In front. far be-
low, showed the bright windows of
the steel works, where the night shift
toiled Now and again, at irregular in
tervals. the sky was lighted with a
sudden glare of the huge chimneys
that blazed up and then died abruptly,
leaving the night blacker than before.
For time they stood looking out at
the distant lights and the silence. At
last it was the girl who spoke
And tomorrow night you will be
down there toiing. watching. waiting.
as they forge the gun which is to make
your fame" she said softly.
"And you?" he asked. just as low.
In the darkness she looked up at him.
''And l." she said-'I shall be up here
just where | am now. watching the
lights and thinking and praying that
all will be we'll"
Again they stood in silence for
time.
Then the man sighed
81 am afraid to come back again." he
began unsteadily Il think | had bet
ter say goodby to you tonight
She moved slightly closer.
"Afraid?' 1t was a taunt tremulous-
ly given.
YES" he burted Il am afraid. and
you know why
She did not answer, and he rushed
on, speaking low. eagerly. yet bitterly.
You know l can't tell you what l
wish to say. | haven't really the right.
am a peDniless naval officer and you
the daughter of the biggest steel man
in the country. l haven't the right"
What is it you wish to say?" she
asked mistakenly. She was so close
their hands touched as he turned to-
ward her. And, touching. the hands
chung together,
You know what | wish to say" he
exclaimed If had the right I'd tell
you how much | love you. I'd tell you
how from the first moment | saw you
l wanted you. and you only. I'd tell
you how | never have lived until |
knew you and the rest of my life
must be one dreary blank of grinding
duty because | must lose you. I'd tell
you that life with you would be more
happiness than any man has the right
to have. I'd tell you that I'd rather
have one year of you than a million
years on earth and all the honors that
men could give me. I'd tell you"-he
broke off bitterly for second, then
repeated-"Td tell you enough to make
you realize what an absolutely dream
ing, idiotic fool am, but I'd tell you
enough to make you know how | suf-
fer because | haven't the right to real
ly tell you anything"
In the darkness the girl laughed a
low laugh of pure delight
You are an absolute. idiotic. dream
ing fool" she said, so softly, so ten
derby, that he could not but understand
"Francesr
He barely breathed her name. Then
all reply was cut off, for she was in
his arms with her own arms about his
neck and their lips were tight to-
gether,
1t was nearly half an hour later
when Frances Durant. her cheeks
flushed. her eyes misty with happi
ness. opened the big front door and
stepped back into the lighted hall
So much had happened in that short
time. She had gone out an anxious
worried girl She re-entered a glow
ing woman. loved and loving, sure OF
herself and happily confident of the
future They were not engaged. No
/ indeed, They had solemnly assured
) each other of that fact. 1t would no
s do at all for the penniless naval Officer
e to formally ask the hand of the stee
J., kings daughter! But when his gu1
2 had been a great success and fame
n had come to him then he was to come
! and make his formal plea and ask he
father for her hand. And she would
f be waiting eagerly for her lover. read.
G with her answer and prepared. no mat
ter what happened. to follow him t
> the ends of the earth.
Edward Pinckney looked up with
sheer as she entered the library.
/ 'Oh, he's gone. has he?" he sai'
contemptuously
/. The girl was too happy to mind tn
l. tone.
: "You mean Mr. Sommers?" she said
!. affecting to misunderstood. Eyes; he
! gone"