The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-11-21
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file out Of the corners Of her eyes.
sac was wondering II she should
check that which she knew TO De
coming, or le- him 20 on. Her
mind vent back 20 similar ride
she had taken over three years
ago. The man with her then had
been dark and very handsome. This
tnan was lark, but no one could call
him handsome. Then her heart had
been iIrious'y beating, and a wild,
delightful dread had been hers; but
now she was calm and collected
She decided 10 le. him 20 on, and
remained silent.
You see. may be returning to
Africa By the next mail" Elwood
proceeded
You said something about it. Is
II settled, hen?'
The girls tone was quite conver-
sational But her -lanner had no
effect upon the man. He made up
his mind.
u haven't quite decided YET,
That's why wanted TO drive you
10 the theatre" His eyes came
back to her face, and a smile nov
cred about them. It seemed TO Mary
an unnecessary suDterfuge 10 tell
him that she didn't understand.
You see, want to ask you to
marry me" he added simply. "Ac-
cording to your decision / shall
either go or remain
lie had made no movement. The
smile was still about his eyes He
might have been making the most
commonplace remark 1t seemed to
the girl that this man, so strong,
so quiet, was a perfect master Of
himself at all times; man that
would face crisis, perhaps death,
with no ,more outward sign than he
was displaying now. And yet she
felt that under that calm exterior
the fires OF love, passion, hatred,
could burn, did burn, and as surely
actuated him as they actuate the
rest of living creatures.
She began to answer without hes
itatlon.
But he cut her short. Again she
experienced that feeling of being
hell fast by him.
zone moment he said, and
there was the faintest suggestion OF
sharpness in his voice-a sharpness
which seemed to be the effect of
his restraint. please don't decide
until you have heard me out. You
don't love me, | know I've watched
you these two months-two short,
happy months for me. Perhaps you
cant realize how closely l have
watched you. ! know that you do
not love me. ! could not expect that
you should. | am far older than you.
nave alNtu IL lllt lluJ llOl III
ted me to inspire woman's love.
Why,"-he smiled-'I am little bet
ter than a savage myself. Still,
perhaps love may come" He leant
towalts her, and his voice dropped
to a deep appeal. See, lifes devo.
tion ample wealth, absolute free
dom in your life, constant care for
your welfare and happiness. Surely
these may count for something, |
surely they are worth having! And
| will give you these; | will give
you all that a man can give the
woman he loves if you will be my |
wife and return with me to Africa" |
He paused, while the girl at his |
side shook her head She was face
TO face with the situation she had !
dreaded. she did not love him, and !
wantdl no misunderstanding. Yet .
she found 1t hard to resist the quiet,
voice. She knew she was
right in refusing him, and meant
to hold to It. But she was not with
out a slight feeling of rebellion at
the fate which denied her love for .
this man. He had never stirred her
as that other had done years ago. |
Those glowing moments, which still .
to memory. could never be .
repeated with him. Had she never
known real love it might have been
different.
III | Consentei TO marry you with |
out love, in return for all that you |
would lavish on me. ! should be |
doing you the greatest wrong |
woman can do a man. | don't love |
you, Mr. Elwood. All the love | ever |
hab was given to man who still |
possesses it. | can never alter that |
He has passed out of my life-~be
is dead; that is my misfortune. No; |
| cannot marry you
She had turned towards him. She