Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1909-12-10
AS the Fathers NiIIed

How she hated himl Why had her
f.; - ;.ic 'gal Nc- 70 t,ssa. n a sjgst
bee. Ise lie was iond Ok mis- father
He had no right to do it when she was
SO young and now that she had be
come Of age this man was holding her
TO Il. His fasher, William Toward
had promised Fenton Brabhewaite
that when Myrtle was q his son Gil
bert should spend at. least a month
with her. after which time. If they
agreed to marry each other. they
should both receive $4,000. Mr.. How
ard had provided for this in his will.
and II they failed to marry, the money
was to go to certain charities. s. 3
Gilbert was now fulfilling his IA
TIERS promise. Ever since he had
come to visit his promised fiencee he
had been baked in every way by her.
She only appeared at the breakfast
table when he specially asked It. the
same at lunch, and he knew that she
came to dinner only because she must
treat her fathers guest with com.
mon courtesy. With Gilbert. with oul
thought of the money, 1t had been
love at first sight The thought that.
he had come to try to win her made
Myrtle hate him before he got there
II he mentioned a drive. walk. tennis
or even Just 10 sit end read or talk
she always kad~a ready excuse. let.
ters to write, orders to give to the ser
wants, or some equally unnecessary
thing. He-had almost given up In des-
pair -
Myrtle had not appeared at break
fast and he had gone for a walk by
himself to try and make up his mind
whether to give in now or wait little
longer. She, too. was off riding by
herself trying to make plans. Either
he must go away or she would She
had dreamed of him all night. Why
was he SO good looking anyway? Why
couldn't she get him out of her mind?
The more she snubbed him the more
pleasantly he smiled. Oh, how she
hated him for 1T Just that morning
she had found some beautiful orchids
on her desk because at dinner the
night before she had said she vas
fond OF them. Her first thought then
had been to crush them, but they
were too beautiful.
She was so engrossed in her
thodghts that she did not see Gilbert
sitting by the roadside until the spir.
tied horse started and rose on her
launches. He jumped up quickly and
caught the bride
Sorry to have startled you." he
said Are you going for a ride? Was
didn't you ask me?'
Simply because l wanted to bs
alone"
Very we'll" he said and touched his
hat.
Myrtle bit her lip and unconscious
ly touched the horse with her spur.
! He reared and striking out wildly
caught Gilbert on the shoulder, knock
ing him down. Myrtle thought he had
been struck on the head. The blood
rushed to her brain, her heart leaped
as If 1t would leave her body. She
slid from her saddle and was beside
him in a moment.
Gilbert, are you hurt? Tell me. oh
| speak to mel"
HnOl6 was
her eyes we're wet. He sprang TO hi
feet and caught her by the arm.
I'm not burt-Myrtlei" s,t..s... -.
They were looking into each others
eyes; his breath was coming fast
painfully; her heart had seemed to
stop beating.
Myrtle" he said again. "You
cared You cared If I were hurt! We
are not-not friends, yet you cared.
Myrtle, look at me; love you"
She drew away from him with a
feeling akin to fear, but that fear was
mingled with strange Joy. She had
shrunk from his grasp. yet she lOnsed
for him to take her again.
DO you hear?" he said. 81 love
you. My little girl, can't you love
i me?"
He caught her and drew her toward
him. Her pride fought hard. but he
heart was the victor. His arms closed
more tightly around her, he bent his
head and kissed her But for that
kiss she might have resisted. but il
seemed to take all her strength and
half unconsciously she whispered 81
love you" He crushed her to him
again. There was pause. No sound
reached them but the twittering Of the
birds overhead.
"You love me-" he said, with catch
in his voice. 1T is too great to be
lieve."
1T seems so strange, so impossi
ble," she murmured from his shoul
der. why only last evening we quar-
relied. In fact ! have quarreled with
you ever since you came. don't sec
how you ever could love me after tho
way have treated you. I thought
hated you, but II was Just my pride
had to love you and know why
You are so strong. so self-willed. SC
much OF a man and-l love man."
So they sat in the silence Of their
great happiness, until he whispered
70 her: Darling what clever meI
our fathers we're"