Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1909-03-05


about Gladys was childish. am not
jealous of her, Captain Selwyn. Don't
think me silly or perverse or sentimen'
tai, will you?"
81 wish to ask you something"
with pleasure" she said, eco
ahead" And she settled back, fearless
ly expectant.
Every well. then" he said, striving
to speak coolly. 1T 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, 81 cannot. Why
why, you know that, don't your
"Will you tell me why, Eileen?"
Ell don't know why. think-I
suppose that it is because I do not
love you-that way"
YES" be said. that, Of course. is
the reason. I wonder-do you suppose
that-in time-perhaps-you might care
for me-that way"
81 don't know" She glanced up at
him fearfully, fascinated, yet repealed.
81 don't know" she repeated pitifully.
as it-can't you help thinking of me
iu that way? Can't you be as you
were?"
"No. can no longer help 1t. don't
want to help it, Eileen"
Butt wish you to-" she said in a
low voice. ut is that which is COM
ing between US. Oh, don't you see it
isl Don't you feel it-feel what it is
doing to us? Don't you understand
how It Is driving me back into myself?
Whom am I to go to If not to you?
What am 7 to do il your affection
turns into this-this different attitude
toward me? II loved you so dearly
so fearlessly."
Tears blinded her. She bent her
head, and they fell on the soft, delicate
In the sunlight
Dear" be said gently, nothing is
altered between US. love you in that
way too"
DIDO 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, it is strength
ened. You cannot understand that
now But what you are to believe and
always understand is that our friend
ship must endure"
81 want to ask you something" she
said. merely to prove that you are
little bit illogical. May II"
He nodded. smiling.
Gould you and ] care for each other
more than we now do if we were mar
ried?"
81 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 1 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 I don't love you that way.
Oh, don't look at me that way! Have
l hurt you, dear Captain Selwyn2 l
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 child he still was
dealing with-a child with child's in
nocence, repealed by the graver phase
of love. unresponsive to the deeper
emotions, bewildered by the glimpse
the mature role his attitude had
1elled her to accept. That she al
- had reached that milestone and
for a 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
MOO"
He was silent, and presently she
said, 1.-THE reason of Tiny crying
Is b-b-because l don't wish you to be
unhappy"
But, DEAR dear little girl, am not"
"ReallyY'
mo, indeed. Why should ! be? You
do love me, don't your"
You know do"
But not In that way"
"N-no; not In that way. l w-wish l
did"
A thrill passed through him. After
a moment he relaxed and leaned for
ward, his chin resting on his clinched
hands. "Then let us go back to the
old footing, Eileen"
Can WEI"
:, sYesy we can, and we wlll--back to
.he old footing when nothing Of deeper
sentiment disturbed u.s. Youge know
how 1t is. A man who is locked up in !
is never satisfied until he
IAN climb the. wall and look. over.