The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-07-07

man must always be strong and brave, whatever the circumstances Of his life
 might be, and so far Leicester had disappointed her. Nevertheless, there
 was in his words a subtle flattery which appeals to every woman. She
 was. humanly speaking fhe saving
 power of his life. The destiny of this strong man was in her hands. What
 might he not do and be if he were
 inspired by great hopes and lofty am
 bitions? His name could be a house.
 hold word in the land. Millions of
 struggling, starving people would have
 cause to bless his name. And, she,
 she could be the means used by God
 whereby all that was best and noblest
 in this man could be realized. For
 she like all who knew him, felt the
 wondrous possibilities of his life. It
 might seem like boasting when he
 said that with her by his side he
 could do anything, but she felt sure
 it was true.
 Besides, Leicester appealed to her
 woman's pride. Everyone longs for
 strength, masterfulness in the man she loves; she would rather be master
 ed by a strong man, than be master
 of a weak man. At that moment she forgot Leicester's cynicism, his
 professed scorn for all she held most
 dear; she thought of him as the man he could be.
 Behind all that was unworthy, the
 real man lay strong and brave. He might become a Cabinet Minister,
 could fit him even for this. The
 sphere of such a mans influence was
 simply boundless. He could uplift the
 whole tone of the nation. And then more than all, he loved her. This
 was not the sneering, unbelieving man
 who first came to her fathers house a few weeks before, who took a pleasure
 in laughing at all that was best and
 truest No one could accuse him of
 lack of earnestness today. He had
 almost frightened her by the inten-
 sity of his appeal, the passion of his
 words And did she love him? If
 perfect love casteth out fear, she did
 not love him. Nevertheless, no man
 had ever appealed to her like this man. Others had asked her for her love, and she had refused them with out hesitation, but Leicester was diff ferent. If she refused him, it would
 be after many questions, it would be
 with an aching heart.
 And yet she was afraid. She want ed to think, she wanted to examine her own heart in Loneliness and in silence. Yes, and she wanted to speak to her father. Was this sign that she did not really love him? It was difficult to say, Leicester had been spoken of in her hearing as one who sneered at all things which to her were sacred and it was out of har- mony with her whole life thought to link her life with such man. But there was another side of the question. He loved her, and the thought of his love made her heart beat quickly, and filled her with strange joy.
 These thoughts passed through her
 mind in a flash. Nay, perhaps she
 did not think them at all. They be- came a kind of consciousness to her,
 a series of impressions which possess ed her being without mental activity
 on her own part. Moreover, Leicester
 by kind of intuition, divined what
 was in her mind. For these two na- lures were closely akin, although their training, outlook, and concep-
 tions of life were entirely different. If he were a keen-brained, strong,
 masterful man, she was in her degree his equal She loved strength, even as he rejoiced in it. Although in many respects presenting a strong contrast, | Mother Nature had cast them in a similar mould.
 Meanwhile, Leicester was watching l her closely. He tried to read her face as he would read an open book. with what eagerness we need scarcely
 say. What had begun in grim and almost repelling jest had resulted in terrible earnestness. This man loved with all the strength of his nature. sI want your answer" he said at length And I must only have one answer. Oh, forgive me if l seem rude, but I cannot help it. I know IndC l nave iiOt oPohSh oo oo9AiN' that is because I have spoken as l was compelled. know how unworthy I am-yes, am in deadly earnest. l know I am not worthy to brush your boots; but I love you with all the strength of my life. Tell me, Olive
 castlemaine, that I may hope" "No," she said quietly, ''I cannot tell x,o,, tbat-tfat is-vet"
 She knew she yielded the whole pos- ition in that qualification, although she would not have admitted it-so strange thing is woman's heart.
 Leicester felt sure of it too. and, un- believer as he was, he could have said. "Thank God.'
 sI must have time to think', she went on. "I must speak to my fath- er."
 He took a step forward as if to grasp her hand, but she drew back. HNo," she said. 'IA did not ex-
 pect-that-you would come to me in this way, and-it is not a decision which can be made lightly"
 .No, great God, mo-" said Leicester. His voice was hoarse, and almost trembling. He never could have be- lieved that he could have been so much moved. 'It is everything to
 me-everything."
 Tn his heart of hearts he believed