Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1910-03-04

Copyright, 1894. by w. r. Hearst
Gwen. old girl. I'm in loye.'
A faint. pink flush crept into the
| girls thin cheeks and made the pale
somewhat worn looking face, seem al
most pretty.
"You-in love-" sine asked softly.
Her companion laughed, an awkward
half-apolegeric sort Of laugh.
You never suspected it OF me. old
you?' he said.
mo" replied the girl, and her dark
eyes grew strangely tender.
4 have told no n but YOU. he
went on. 5 h wishes il 10 be q secret
for the present
She looked haggard even in the aim
- secret. she said. Why a Sc
cret?"
We've know each other such a short
time. she is afraid people viii laugh
at US. They wouldn't understand, she
| says"
But YOU understand, Gwen. don't
youo / begged TO be allowed 10 tell
you. 1 wanted you 10 be the first to
wish me joy"
and I do, Tom, I do, with all my
heart
She spoke without a tremor in the
low, clear voice.
1t seems TO me / have known her
all my life, and h feels the same
about me. Gwen"
That is because you love each
other"
I knew YOU would understand" he
cried eagerly. L told her so. Gwen. /
told her all about you. about Il
friendship. and all l ~ you"
Was that necessary. Tom?
Necessary" he laughed joyously.
Why, Gwen, l have no secrets from
her"
No" said G~@n al on"-s= 80:
Il know what you are thinkng-she
may possibly be Jealous" .
The girl started as though she had
been struck.
Jealous Of me-" h cried Who
could be that"
TO tell you the truth. Gwen, she was
Just a l3ttle-at first. Then / ex-
planned 10 her what a good. true friend
sou had always been 10 me. and how I
learned 10 love YOU as a sister, @hc
was so much better, and wiser,
and"
And older than you Tom 1 hope
you told her that"
I've never given il a thought. Gwen"
Il shall be twenty-Elne next birth
day. l daresay 1 might be forty-nine
for all you cared. Tom, tell her that.
II will satisfy her"
She is satisfied. Do you remem-
bsr, Gwen, what I've said to you so
often? Men are you friends, not your
lovers"
Il remember. There was something
about me you said. something you
couldn't quite explain. which made me
different from other women"
We ~ ~-AgrL nunn - ~ 49,. <~--.
their Common fate. You're strong, and
self reliant, Gwen. You know how to
make our way in the world. and you
want nc mans help. / sometimes think
it's that that keeps us at arms length.
We know that you can do Without US.
that you don't need our protection, and
so we shrink from offering 1t. You're
too brave for us, Gwen"
The girl smiled strangely.
Perhaps you're right" she said.
but didn't come here to talk about
me. What is she like. Tom
His face kindled.
''Other people call her charming and
pretty" he said, but to me she is the
most beautiful woman in the world.
And yet h is hardly a woman, but a
lovely. innocent child, Gwen, and as
helpless as a child"
And that you love her most of ALL
said the girl. You love to take care
Of her"
He began TO laugh, from sheer nappi-
ness.
~She is SO young-barely eighteen
and 50 ignorant of the world. Life, for
her, is full of dangers. Oh, / must
guard her well. Gwen, if you only knew
the joy a man has in the helpiessness
Of the woman he loves"
Il think l understand" she said.
Let me see her picture
"How did you know" he asked. with
a shame faced smile. and drew from his
pocket a tiny leather case.
She stirred the glowing COAL into
fame, and knelt on the hearth rug to-
examine the portrait.
Ii was a pretty, commonplace little
face, with a somewhat affected expires
sion-possibly due To the Photographic,
Gwen reflected.
Its not a good likeness said Tom.
looking over her shoulder. and. of
course, all the coloring is lost. She has
lovely hair-bright gold when h sun
is on it-and a real complexion. Gwen.
like "a young child's."
She must be very pretty"
Il wish you could see her, but YOU
viii. soon. 1 hone. shes ecaag 30
town, with her people, next month"
"Maynt / know her name?"
o. course. I'D quite forgotten YOU
didn't know. It's Lucy Mannering."
h noticed how fondiy his voice lin
ge-ed on the name.
Lucy she said. Il think il suits
her, and l remember now that YOU
mentioned her in your letter. She has
been staying with the Harwoods. too.
hasn't she2 / know now" she added,
with a light little laugh. why. you
wrote TO me so seldom, Tom"
Il Was a selfish beggar and I've neyer
asked you Gwen, 10Y you've been get
ting on. Splendfdly, as usual. OF
! course27
She smiled a little bitterly.
IF you choose to aall ii that she
said. Il can always get plenty OF
work"
And you deserve IT."
Such as il fs.r
-Oh. come now. Gwen. You a success
fui journalist, oughtn't TO talk like this
Why thousands OF women would give
anything for your position"
Il ~daresay-"
But not many OF them have got
you- brains of your enterprise