El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-08-01
The Herald's
Daily Short Story

There Is the farm, and the cottage
Though my mother would want that)'
and the four fields nigh
She broke in with impatience. That
isn't what L mean What have you'
what is there in you different from
other men, that 1 should want to marry
your she asked.
life and comprehension as were Inc
stars. He was silent.
The. girl laughed, not cruelty pu1
very softly. almost sweetly. POOR
boy, Go home-no, go TO Fecillty-
For the first time he was seized by
a desire to hurt her. He looked at ner
strangely. What was she, thin, grey
eyed thing pretty, to gibe at him ike
this?
herself a little shake, and he knew that
she was as little afraid Of him as were
the wind and the rain and the sur
Shel said dismissiEg him casually,
You had better go. Felicity may be
waiting"
No" he said, Il went CO.
Something little kinder came into
her eyes. She said softly, Think what
what have l TO offer you? L am
beggar. and 1 am not ashamed Of my
beggarhood."
u
NJ. I shouldn't. 1 should always re-
member it-and banker after it. To be
a beggar is to be free" She smiled a
little inward smile; then turned 10 him
/ again. WHO would help your mother
on baking days?"
You" he stammered. Wouldn't
you"
~Oh, 1 can bake" she said indiffer-
emily. Perhaps I might on dull days.
Maybe I would help her maybe 1
wouldn't"
The CONSERVATION with which he bat
tied amused her.
Then there's church going in a
Sunday gown" she Knocked. Would
ii content you il I went just when l
pleased? 'TWOuld be pleasure that
would not appeal to me often. Could
you race me the way home? There's
joy in running o Sundays There are
big black shadows on the pond before
rainy weather If 1 left the farm to go
to look at them
He said huskily, You can't leave a
farm at any hour of the day"
She smiled again, that little quiet
smile. and smelt the southernwood.
No. 1 thought not" she said; and
neither can you lock the wind in with
a key"
After moment she rose slowly. and
went to the window. The wind sang
past the window The girl leant her
cheek against the pane and listened
The mockery dieI out of her eyes.
Suddenly she turned I do not love
you, Aubrey" she said.
The simplicity of word and movement
had its charm. unaccOuntable, potent;
given to love.
He said, smiling unesSily. That
would be all righJ-in time" .
She looked at him curiously- You
would be willing to take me without
love?"
He nodded.
The southernwood slipped from her
fingers and fell to the floor. 1t lay
there, exhaling its fresh scent. 1t " as
near her shabby shoes
The girl slipped into the window seat
and looked through the loaded panes at
the tossing trees. DO you know" she
said, without turning, that there have
been men and women who have died
for the sake of love? 1 heard of a
woman once-when he whom she loved
was dead, she knelt by the coffin and
her heart broke like the stem of a
flower, and she smiled once, and died.
There are these things in the world.
Farmers and their wives mate more
simply, choose their partners with less
nicety-this once. or that once, what
does it matter? Choose a good house
wife, farmer; there's 4 great deal in
that-a great deal
He did not answer, and she said,
laughing a little, Il will not marry you,
farmer boy go to Felicity"
Still he waited. but she did not no
tice him. She sat there huddled up in
the window seat, smiling. and listen
ing TO the wind. Once she turned, TO
look past the place where he was stand
ing and watch sunbeam that flickered
on the wall
He saw that she had forgotten him.
and his heart strangely chilled, ,Re left
her.
The wind was still roaring as he went
over the meadow on his Esy to Felic-
ity. Il was a windy day