The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-07-08


 him, stroking his bristled red hair as I she spoke, Ut would be terribly lonely for you Tiff anything happened to me You are so strong in some ways. Yet in others you are child. No one | understands you except me. No one else can break through the rough out er-world shell to the big gentle boy that hices inside it. If I were not here | that boy. No one would even suspect he was there. And by and by he | would die for lack of companionship. | The hard rough armor would go on through life. But the soul.-the boy I l love.-would be dead. Oh. you need me, dear! You need me! The poor | helpless friendly little boy behind the brutal shell.-the real you needs me. He can't live without me. No one | else will love him, or even know he | is in his hiding place waiting and long l ing to be made friends with, I can't | let you go"'
 The soft voice broke, despite the gall l 1ant spirits commands. And the tone went through Conover like white-hot steel.
 Don't talk so, Dey.' he imp1ored. Don't speak like you weren't goin' to | get well. You are I tell you!' Yes, dear" she assented once more, betting the big awkward hand that chung to her.
 "Of course you are." he protested valiantly. "It's crazy of me to a. | tiiOd6hI dhy Iiiii6 ClSC- All oi0l really. You'll be as we'll as ever you was, in a week or less. I'm having nurses tePgraphed for. too. The best there are. An',' veritable inspira- tion crossing the brain he was rack ing for further words of encourage ment, An I've got a present for you. A dandy one. Guess what it is.'' ''F1owers"' he echoed in fine scorn, "Somethin' nicer'n all the flowers that ever happenedI Seei" He fished from his waistcoat pocket a little box wrapped with tissue paper that was none the cleaner for a weeks companionship with tobacco-dust and lead pencils.
 'tOh, let me open it!' she command ed. with a vestige of her old sweet im- periousness. That's the best part of a. present.
 She undid the grimy paper, opened ] the box and gazed in childish delight at the gorgeous diamond in it's plati- mum setting.
 'T knew you'd like it" he chuckled, "Han'somest ring in New York From the best store there, too. See the name on the box-cover. How's that for an engagement ring?"
 Its beautiful! Beautifulr' she mur- mure1.
 She slipped it on her third finger, whence 1t hung heavy and ridiculously loose
 Maybe it's a little. too large'' he l confessed, But we'll have that fixed SdSily eHOuSu l ulQQ WdnC to ASK your size beforehand for fear you might suspect something So I had to guess at it.''
 She praised the diamonds beauties until even Conover was content. Then she lay back among the pillows and fought moveless1y for endurance. Her waning strength, keyed up to it's high est pitch for Ca1eb's sake. was desert ing her. To hide her weakness she began playing with the ring; slipping fr-0y1, 6r,er fr f7y,1 Y, the circlet hung loose from her thumb. Caleb watched her slender hand toy ing with the gift.
 'It'n be almighty short time. now" ring above thati Hey?" | At his words the girl, to his dismay, broke into a passion of tears.
 There! There? he consoled, pass ing his arms about the frail tormented body, "Why, what is it, sweetheart? Too much excitement after your ac-' ,cident? I ought to a had better sense than to keep you talkin' like this. Try an get some sleep. An when you wake up you'll feel better. Lots bet ter. Don't cryi It breaks me all up to have you do it. Don't, preciousi' TT love you SO panted the girl. There's just you in all the world. Calebi You'll stay close by me all ways, won't you? Just as long as 1ive?'
 You bet willr' he declared, "An' I'll never let you outeof my sight. ain't more'n half myself when you're away. I need you worse'n you can ever need me, Dey. You're just the heart of me-" Don't take your arms away she begged, "They are so strong, so safe. Listen, dear=I want you to pick me up.-I'm not too heavy. am I?-Pick me up and carry me. I want to be close to you,-closer than I ever was before. You are so big,-so powerful.
  less; that's all,'' she added hastily, And it will quiet me to be held.''
 He gathered her gently to his. breast. Her arms clasped his neck; her face was buried in his shoulder to stifle the cry of agony evoked by the move ment of lifting. Then, carrying her closely to his heart, Conover began to pace the room, bearing the girl as easily and as lightly as though she were a baby.
 The tenderness of his caress now held no roughness. The motion and the reliance on his perfect strength quieted her suffering and gave her the sense of utter peace she had known when she fell asleep in his arms on the Adirondack hilltop
 "I am very happy!" she sighed, Do I tire your" "Not much you don't, you little bit of a grill" he laughed, '1 could carry you always. An I'm goin' to. Right close in my heart. Say, there was man out in the other room when4 I came. A minister. He said a queer thing. Somethin' bout beif carried on the strong arm of Christ 'I think know what he meant" said DeSiree, softly.
 ''Hm! Sometime when you're better I'll get you to explain it to me. I'd rather talk bout you, just now. D'yQu remember that time I sat by the fire an held you like this while you went to sleepy"
 DO I remember?" she answered. There has never been one hour I've forgotten it. It made me feel so safe from harm; so sure, so happy. Per haps.-Yes, I'm sure-that's the way one must feel when-' "Are you thinlxin' bout what that preacher said ?'' asked Caleb, miser- ably. Don't girl! It'll be years and years before you ever need to think bout those things. month from