The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1909-11-25

I 5R\
49,
"Shc's IN tore Vith nan. I tCu you she's
IN tore pih hun."
shur of 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 aud again. at irregular In.
tervals. the sky was lighted with n
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 u.
the distant lights and the silence. Al
last It was the girl who spoke
And tomorrow night you will be-
down there toiling. 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 Il him.
And l." she said-"l 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 a
time
Then the man sighed.
~ am afraid to come back again." he
began unsteadily II think | had bet.
ter say goodby to you tonight"
She moved slightly closer.
"AfraidT' II was taunt tremulous-
ly given.
YES" he Elurted II am afraid. and
you know why"
She did not answer. and he rushed
on, speaking low. eagerly. yet bitterly.
"fou know | cant tell you what
wish TO say. haven't really the right.
| am a pennlless naval officer and you
the daughter Of the biggest steel man
in the country. | haven't the right"
"What Is 1t you wish TO say?" she
asked insistently. She was so close
their hands touched as he turned to-
ward her And touching, the hands
clung together.
You know what | wish to say" he
exclaimed "lf had the right I'd tell
you how much love you. I'd tell you
how from the first moment saw you
| 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 a second. then
repeated-"Id 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, idlotic. dream
ing fool" she said, so softly. so ten
derly, 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.
II 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 we're not engaged. No.
indeedl They had solemnly assured
each other of that fact. 1t would not
do at all for the penniless naval officer
TO formally ask the hand of the steel
kings daughter But when his gun
had been a great success and fame
had come to him then he was TO come
father for her hand. And she would
be waiting eagerly for her lover, ready
with her answer and prepared, no mat
ter what happened. to follow him to
the ends OF the earth.
Edward Pinckney looked up with a
sneer as she entered the library.
"Oh, he's gone. has hep he said
contemptuously.
The girl was too happy to mind the
tone.
"You mean Mr.. Sommersp she said
affecting to misunderstood. Yes; he's
gone"