Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1910-11-17
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near there was In his presence In th(
house at this unwonted hour Of the daS
a suggestion of something intimate ant
new. She was looking away from him
into the fire when he rose and drew
close to her.
Il have come to ask you to do soma
thing for me-" he said. Il want you to
sing mo the song-my song-the one
that means-so much--that means ev-
erything."
Il can't, / can't! Please don't ask
me"-and she clenched her hands upon
| her knees.
You hurt me once-when you knew
you did. when you wished me to be
hurt. when l spoke to you of the song
-of my song-of our song! But want
you to sing 1t to me now, Zee, and II
you can sing 1t and then tell me that
| you don't care-that you don't know
what love is-then l shall never again
speak to you-of love-or anything"
No; l don't know-the song. | can't
sing it-ever again!"
rs it because you are afraid-is that
| It? You can't wound me now by any
! thing that you may say but If you Will
sing me the song and then tell me that
your word will always be no. then
shall go away, Zee. and l shall never
trouble you again"
She remembered, as she listened
with her head bowed over her hands,
the first time she had heard his voice,
that was deep and strong. 1t was only
year ago, In Mrs Carr's drawing
room.
She rose and walked away and look
out through the window upon the rain
swept street; she saw the wet leaves
clinging in the walk; 1t was desola.e
picture; and something Of the outer
color, the change of the year, touched
her.
Il can't sing your song-any songl"
and she turned to him suddenly with
laughter in her eyes. My throat Is
very painful" she added and laughed.
"Zee"-and he drew still nearer, 50
that he could have. put out his hand
and touched her.
Please" she begged. grave again.
please forget all about the song-and
me- l wish you to-very much. Theirs
are reasons-a great many reasons
why you must forget all about the song
you liked, and everything that may
suggest to you. Won't you believe me
-please?"
There can't be any reasons that
make any difference"
You can be kind If you WILL" she
said "and merciful."
There is a reason; there is myself.
I'm not ft to call your name or to
stand near you. l have little to Offer;
but / love you, Zee"-and the sincerity
of his plea touched her, SO that she did
not speak for a moment but stood
staring at the rain-beaten pane with
eyes that saw nothing.
"You could spare me-if you would"
she said.
Il would give my life for you," he
answered. steadily, unyieldingly but
can't let you put me aside-for any
idle fears or doubts. You must tell me
what troubles you; you have not told
me that you did not care. shall not
go until you tell me what It is that
weighs against me. l have right to
one or the other"
She looked at him suddenly: It would
be easy to say that she did not care;
but her eyes filed at the thought, and
she turned to the window again. The
beat Of hoofs upon the hard street
struck her with a sense of the worlds
vastness and the wind in the cedars
sang like a mournful prophet Of the
coming winter. She could not tell him
that he meant nothing to her, when he
meant so nearly all; but If she should
set up a barrier, 1t might be enough |
and he would go.
you know we have had trouble
that my father has met with losses
and he needs me. My duty is here:
that must be a sufficient reason"
mo" he said, instantly, that is not |
a reason at all. Zee. You are doing for
vour father all that you could be asked |
to do-and l should not ask you to do |
less"
~ must do all 1 cam she said. |
There must be no question of loyalty. |
And now"-she turned to him smil- |
ing-'ft's very disagreeable outside; |
LET us be cheerful indoors"
zee" he began. gravely, Tn not so |
ga sily dismissed as that There's somo- |
thing that 1 want to say, that I |
shouldn't dare say to you, If 1 did not |
love you. l knew months ago that you
were showing a cheerful face to the
world White yOu 9ulACiSd
~Please, oh, please!" and she lifted
her hands to her face. TT is not kind.
You must not!"
you made light of things that you
knew were good; you said things often
that you did not mean; but you were
brave and strong and fine. l under
stood It, Zee. But now that is all out
IF the way. There is no use in think
Ing about it any more"
NO; but you must know that talk
ed to you as did because-oh, because
| hated goodnessl 1 tried to hate It.
It was because-father-b I mustn't
speak of it."
I understand all about that, Zee
But I am very old"-she went on,
Il am very old. and my girl
lood-it all went away from me last
,ear-and every day I had to act a
part. and 1 did so many foolish things
you must have thought"
THAT loved you. Zee" he declared.
refusing to meet her on the ground she
fought.
'The sweetest thing in the world"
Ihe said, must be-not to know-of
vii; not to know!" and there was the
,ent-up heartache Of a year In the sigh
hat broke from her.
Yes: IL was all too bad. Zee; but
ven find better things ahead-rm
ure Of It."
She was not ready to look into the
uture. Her mind was still busy with