The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-02-17

bhlu 10 you On tne DeaCn was IOOllbu.
don't know why I said 1t. I'm not
the sort Of girl who says such stupid
things, though was apparently for
that one moment. And what l said
about Gladys was childish. am not
jealous of her, Captain Selwyn. Don't
think me silly or perverse or sentimen-
tai, will your"
II wish to ask you something"
with pleasure" she said. go
ahead" And she settled back. fearless
ly expectant.
every we'll, them" he said, striving
to speak coolly. ut is this: Will you
marry me, Eileen"
She turned perfectly white and
stared at him, stunned And he re-
peated his question, speaking slowly.
but unsteadily.
"N-no," she said, II cannot. Why
why, you know that, don't your"
"Wil1 you tell me why, EileenT
T-I don't know why. 1 think-I
suppose that it is because I do not
love you-that way"
eyes," he said, that of course. is
the reason. wonder-do you suppose
that-in time-perhaps-you might care
for me-that way?"
II don't know" She glanced up at
him fearfully, fascinated, yet repelled.
'T don't know" she repeated pitifully.
''Is it-can't you help thinking Of me
in that way? Can't you be as you
were?"
mo, can no longer help 1t. I don't
want to help 1t, Eileen"
"But-I wish you to-" she said In a
low voice. at is that which is COM
ing between us. oh, don't you see 1t
is? Don't you feel it-feel what 1t is
doing to us? Don't you understand
how 1t is driving me back into myself?
Whom am 1 to go to If not to you?
What am 1 to do IL your affection
turns into this-this different attitude
toward me? IL loved you so dearly
so fearlessly."
Tears blinded her She bent her
head, and they fell on the soft, delicate
stuff of her gown, flashing downward
in the sunlight.
Dear" he said gently, nothing Is
altered between us. love you in that
way too.''
"D-do you really?" she stammered,
shrinking away from him.
Truly. Nothing Is altered. Moth
ing of the bond between us Is weak
ened. On the contrary, 1t is strength
ened. You cannot understand that
now. But what you are to believe and
always understand Is that our friend
ship must endure"
II want to ask you something" she
said, "merely to prove that you are a
little bit illogical. May II"
He nodded, smiling.
"Could you and care for each other
more than we now do If we were mar
ried?'
II think So" he said.
why" she demanded, astonished.
Evidently she had expected another
answer.
He made no reply, and she lay back
among the cushions considering what
he had said, the flush of surprise still
lingering in her cheeks.
How can l marry you," she asked,
"when l would-would not care to en-
dure "a caress from any man, even
from you? It-such things-would
spoil it all. 1 don't love you that way.
Oh, don't look at me that way! Have
hurt you, dear Captain Selwyn?
did not mean to. Oh, what has be-
come of our happiness? What has be-
come of it?' And she turned, full
length in the swing, and hid her face
In the silken pillows.
He looked down at her, slowly real
izing that it was a child he still was
dealing with-a child with child's in
nocence, repelled by the graver phase
Of love, unresponsive to the deeper
emotions, bewidered by the glimpse
of the mature role his attitude had
compelled her to accept. That she al
ready had reached that milestone and
for moment had turned involuntarily
to look back and find her childhood al
ready behind her frightened her.
Thinking perhaps OF his own years
and of what lay behind him, he sighed
and looked out over the waste of moor
land where the Atlantic was battering
the sands Of Surf point. Then his pa
tient gaze shifted to the east, and he
saw the surface Of Sky pond, blue as
the eyes Of the girl who lay crouching
in the cushioned corner Of the swing
ing seat, small hands clinched over
the handkerchief, limp bit of stuff
damp with her tears.
"There Is one thing" he said, that
we mustn't do-cry about it, must we,
EileenT
"No-o."
He was silent, and presently she
said, 1.-THE reason of it-my crying
is b-b-because l don't wish you to be
unhappy"
But, dear, dear little girl, am not"
"ReallyW
mo, indeed. Why should l be? You
do love me, don't you"
"You know 1 do"
But not in that way"
"N-no; not in that way. 1 w-wish
did"
A thrill passed through him. After
a moment he relaxed and leaned for.
ward, his chin resting on his clinched