Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1910-01-07

uUtJ DcCUuSC Il lnuDl iODC gOu. III It'll
you that life with you would be more
happiness than any man has the right
to have. I'd tell you that I'd rather
have one year Of you than a million
years on earth and all the honors that
men could give me. I'd tell you"-he
broke off bitterly for a second. then
repeated-'Td tell you enough to make
you realize what an absolutely dream
ing, idiotic fool | am. but I'd tell you
enough to make you know how l suf-
fer because haven't the right to real
ly tell you anything"
In the darkness the girl laughed a
low laugh of pure delight.
you are an absolute, idiotic. dream
ing fool" she said. so softly. SO ten
derby, that he could not but understand
"Francesrv
He barely breathed her name. Then
all reply was cut off, for she was In
his arms with her own arms about his
neck and their lips were tight to-
gether.
1t was nearly half an hour later
when Frances Durant. her cheeks
nuSutQ utI CgCo DuiotJ Will hAppA
ness. opened the big front door and
stepped back into the lighted hall.
So much had happened in that short
time. She had gone out an anxious,
worried girl. She re-entered a glow
ing woman. loved and loving. sure of
herself and happily confident of the
future. They were not engaged. No,
al117e T60w. kal aol1D1nIV aCcxrro6
each other of that fact. 1t would not
do at all for the penniless naval officer
to formally ask the hand of the steel
kings daughterl But when his gun
had been a great success and fame
had come to him then he was to come
and make his formal plea and ask her
father for her hand. And she would
be waiting eagerly for her lover. ready
with her answer and prepared. no mat
ter what happened, to follow him to
the ends Of the earth.
Edward Pinckney looked up with a
sneer as she entered the library.
ooh, he's gone, has hep he said
contemptuously.
The girl was too happy to mind the
tone.
"You mean Mr.. Sommers?" she said.
affecting to misunderstood. Eyes: he's
gone"
"Of course / mean that naval whip
p~ersnapper. Who do you suppose !
meant?" he replied sharply. You
ought to have more sense, Frances.
than to stand out on that cold porch.
You're likely to catch pneumonia or
anything"
Ihe girl smiled slightly.
ooh, | wasn't cold" she said.
ave been waiting to speak to you"
began Pinckney again. Its about
something important"
Frances was In no mood for long.
dull conversation. She wanted to get
away by herself to think over the last
half hour. TO feel again the thrill of
| his tsnsA- 10 haaa g ggaii2-iT der ilndsSf
nation the sound of his voice. So she
spoke somewhat impatiently.
Wont tomorrow do, Edward?'
He shook his head with decision.
mo; tomorrow won't do. Frances. !
want to talk to you tonight about
something in which | am interested
and in which your mother and father
are interested also-something which
we all wish to bring about"
The girl yawned. She did not have
the least idea what he was going to
say.
"Oh, very well. Edward. if it's any
thing you wish and mother and father
wish. too, just consider that l have
agreed and let it go at that, Don't
worry me-"
He stepped toward her suddenly and
before she realized it had put his arm
about her.
'Then we may the en-
gagement at once," he said master
fully.
The girl recoiled. then tore herself
from his arms.
mo-" she said sharply. you will
not announce any engagement of mine
If you mean yourself as the man."
His face darkened.
"You mean you don't care for me?'
he demanded.
She looked at him with a smile.
"Of course l care for you. Edward:
we've been brought up together. I've
looked on you as a sort Of big brother,
but l don't care for you the least bit
In the way you mean, and | never
will"
you mean you won't marry me?'
he demanded angrily.
"Of course l won't marry you when
1 don't care for you" she retorted, be
ginning to lose her temper in turn.
'Are you out Of your senses? I've
never had any idea of marrying you,
Edward. l will never have such an
idea"
Pinckney saw all his dreams begin to
tumble. 1t made him angry, desper-
ate.