The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1909-01-02

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drew her head over
WO against his shoulder. His
~ strong right hand clasped
her listless fingers, and the warmth Of
his heart came bounding into her veins
as If by magic. He did not speak to
her. but she knew that he was claiming
her then for all time. She knew that
aothing could stand In the way OF his
purpose. The sobs grew less despair
ing, her understanding of things less
vague and uncertain. A few moments
before she had felt that she was no
kin to the world; now there was a new
appreciation Of love and its greatness
in her sou.
This man had loved her, and he
would take her up and shield her
against the hate of the world. There
had not been a moment when her own
love for him wavered. She worshiped
him now as she had in the beginning.
The revelation of broom, the theatric
scenes in the cafe, the crushing Of the
small hope she had cherished, all con-
spired in this secure moment to waken
her into a realization Of what an over
balancing power love is.
Unconsciously her fingers frightened
upon his, and her body drew closer.
She was arraying herself against the
fear that she might lose this haven Of
rest and Joy. after all-the haven she
had been willing to scourge and destroy
in the bitterness of her heart. A great
waye of pity for herself came sweeping
over her. 1t grew out Of the dread that
he might, after all. deny her the place
that no one else in the world could
give.
Graydon's cold face was suddenly H.
lumined. The incomprehensible sweet
ness Of pain rushed through his blood.
He had given up his hope rs blighted
after the harsh hour with broom. He
could not believe his new found sue
cess. Doubt. unbelief. envcloped him
as he raised her head, a kiss crying for
its kind. His arm crept behind her
shoulders. She did not offer a repulse.
Her wet cheek touched his in submis,
sion. 1t was the first time his hungry
arms had held her in centuries. it
seemed to him-and to her. 1t was the
first time their lips had met, except in
dreams. since that horrid night so
long ago.
Jane, JaneF' he was whispering in
her ear. Her plans. her purposes. her
sacrifices, were running away from her
in riotous disorder. She could not hold
them in check. They fed like weak
lings before the older and stronger
hopes and desires.
They did not know of the blockade Of
cabs at the corner of Forty-second
street nor how long they stood there,
Shouting cabmen and police officers
tried to rival the white blizzard in pro
~fuseness, but they did not hear them.
"Oh, Graydon, l cannot, l must notr'
she was crying. holding his hand with
almost frenzied disdain for the words
so plaintively loyal. 1T is out of the
question, dearest. You know It is. /
love you-oh, how l love you! But
Il must not be your wife. II
1--WE had enough of this. Jane" he
said so firmly that she stlffened percep-
tibly in his arms. ITS all COMPOUNDED
rot. Excuse me, but it is. / know you
think you're right, but you're not. Old
Elias gave the best advice in the world.
You know what It was. We've just got
to make our own happiness. Nobody
else will do It for us, and it's just as
easy to be happy as it is to be the other
way. I'm tired Of pleading. I've wait
ed as long as l intend to. We're going
to be married tomorrow"
"Graydong'
Don't refused It's no use, dearest
We've lost a year or two. don't in
tend to lose another day. What do |
care about your father and mother
What did they care about you? You
owe all the rest Of your life to your
self and to me. Come. will you con
sent willingly orr He paused She
was very still IN bis arms for a long
time.
Il do SO want to be happy" she
said at last, refectively. "No. no
Don't say anything yet. / am only
wondering how it viii be after we've
been married for a few years. When
I'm growing old and plain and you
begin to tire OF me, as most men grow
weary Of their wives-wbat then
All. Graydon, IL have thought about
all that too. You'll never reproach
me openly-you couldn't do that. !
know. But you may secretly nourish
the scorn which,
"Jane," be said, dropping the tone OF
confident authority and speaking very
tenderly, you forget that my fatheI
~ is a convict You forget that he has
,ubi1one things which win forever keer
,torss a beggar at your feet am ask.
Iotaled> you to forget and overlook much
FnnlSghan you could ever ask Of me
neered sbhs. wretch that he Is, has point
chairman sur ways for Us. They run to
committee. aepita Of what may conspir'
made treasur PA Jane, | love my soul
"a Norman r. VI zen thousand times bet
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