The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1910-02-24
Copyright, 1904, by w. R. Hearst.)

NSoPS 'i6ilt, loVf, ny w q. Ilc"iotJ
Gwen, old girl, I'm in love-
A faint, pink flush crept into the
girls thin cheeks and made the pale,
somewhat Worn looking face, seem al
most pretty.
Youth love?" she asked softly.
Her companion laughed, an awkward,
half-apolegetic sort of laugh.
You never suspected it of me, did
your" he said.
No." replied the girl. and her dark
eyes grew strangely tender.
Il nave told nc one but you.' he
went on. "She wishes it to be a secret
for the present"
All the color went from her face.
She looked haggard even in the dim
light.
"A secret" she said. Why a Sc
cret?"
We've know each other such a hort
time, she is afraid people will laugh
at us. They wouldn't understand, h
says"
Il suppose not"
But you understand, Gwen, don't
you? 1 begged to be allowed to tell
you. l wanted you to be the first to
wish me joy
And 1 do, Tom, I do, with all my
heart"
She spoke without a tremor in the
low, clear voice.
TT seems to me I have known her
all my life, and she feels the same
about me, Gwen"
THAT Is because you love each
other"
II knew you would understand" he
cried eagerly. 81 told her so. Gwen. L
told her all about you, about our
friendship, and all l owe you"
"Was that necessary, Tom?'
Necessary" he laughed %joyously.
why, Gwen, l have no secrets from
her.
No said Gwen, "of course not"
Il know what you are thinkng-she
may possibly be jealous
The girl started as though she had
been struck.
Jealous of me-" she cried. Who
could be that?"
ITO tell you the truth, Gwen, she was
just a little-at first. Then I ex-
planned to her what a good, true friend
you had always been to me, and how 1
learned to love you as a sister, who
was SO much better, n wiser,
and"
And older than you, Tom 1 hope
you told her that"
1--WE never given it a thought, Gwen"
II shall be twenty-nine mex birth
day. 1 daresay I might be forty-nine
for all you cared. Tom, tell her that.
1t will satisfy her"
she Is satisfied. Dc you remem-
Der, Gwen, what I've said to you SO
often? Men are your friends, not your
lowers
81 remember. There was something
about me, you said. something you
| couldn't quite explain, which made me
| different from other women"
"Yes-and which separates you from
their common fate. You're strong, and
| self reliant, Gwen. You know how to
| ~, olyn 1,nI1y- S1yov IN tho rx-nr11 orI vnr,
want no mans help. I sometimes think
it's that that keeps us at arms length.
| We know that o can do without us,
that you don't need our protection. and
so we shrink from offering it. You're
too brave for us, Gwen"
The girl smiled strangely.
Perhaps you're right she said,
but you 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 she is hardly a oma but a
lovely, innocent child. Gwen, and as
helpless as a child"
And that o owe her most of ALL
said the girl. You love to take care
of her."
He began to laugh, from sheer happi-
ness.
| olC Ia 81 SodILS SlSillCG1l-
and so ignorant Of the world. Life, fol
her, is full. of dangers. Oh, / mus
guard her well, Gwen, if you only knew
the joy a man has in the helplessness
of the woman he loves
Il think / understand" she said
Let me see her picture"
How did you know" he asked. witt
a shame faced smile, and drew from hi:
pocket a tiny leather case.
She stirred the glowing Goals int
flame, n knelt on the hearth rug t.
examine the portrait.
1t was a pretty, commonplace littl,
face, with a somewhat affected expires
sion-possibly due to the photographs
Gwen reflected.
It's not a good likeness said Tom
looking over her shoulder. 'and, o
! course. all the coloring is lost. She ha
lovely hair-bright gold when the SUI
is on it-and a real complexion, Gwer
like a young child's."
She must be very pretty
I wish you could see her, but yo
will soon, | hope. She's coming t
town, with her people, next month";
"Mayn't l know her nance"
Q course. I'd quite forgotten 20
didn't know. It's Lucy Mannering."
She noticed how fondly his voice lin
gered on the name.
Lucy" she said. II think it suit
her, and / remember now that yo
mentioned her in your letter. She ha
been staying with the Harwoods. to,
hasn't she? 1 know now" she addet
with a light little laugh, why, yo
wrote to me SO seldom. Tom
I was a selfish beggar and I've neve
asked you, Gwen, how you've been get
ting or Splendidly, as usual, {
course?"
She smiled a little bitterly.
If you choose to call 1t that" sh
J said. II can always get plenty {
work"
And you deserve it,"
Such as it is"
7 "Oh, come now. Gwen, you a success
full journalist, oughtn't to talk like thi
Why, thousands of women would Civ
/, anything for your position"
3 II ~daresay."
. But not many of them have g,
: your brains of your enterprise
: Don't you think SOP"
i always said vol were bound
succeed. Gwen, when / watched no
you stood UP against all odds. how ye
smiled at rebuffs that would have mao
: other women weep; how you bearde
the editors in their dens and calm
1 told thar, fhof NynIlp Sf11ff uyor WIZ,