The Irish standard., 1910-11-05
Illustrations By
Dearborn MelDM



dictate of which Haldane was the head
practically controlled all the public
utilities and afforded all the financial
packing for the Sachem society and
It's immense corruption fund.
Gormly had meant to carry on his
campaign to the end, and then tell
her that he loved her and ask her to
be his wife. He saw swiftly that with
all the complications before him this
would be an entirely fruitless proceed.
ing. Indeed, II under more favorable
circumstances he could have won her
affections, 1t was probable that now
such an endeavor would be unavail.
Ing. He had been wondering since
the knowledge had come to him how
ne could get speech with her without
too great publicity, and behold for
tune had given him the chance. At
whatever hazards he intended to avail
himself of it.
Miss Haldane." he began, after
they had been running along for some
time in silence, Il said that 1 had
something to say to you. don't sup
pose either the time or the circum.
stances are propitious, but necessity
compels me to say 1t now"
Il shall be very glad indeed to listen
to anything that you have to say to
me-" was the answer.
THANK you. I meant-it was my
purpose intended-when I had won
the first step to ask you if you would
not help me with the rest of the bat.
tle."
"Help you, Mr.. Gormly"
Yes, Miss Haldane. I purposed to
ask you to be my wife,"
"Your wife!" exclaimed the girl.
1T surprises you doubtless. Pos.
sibly 1t dismays you.''
1T surprises me, certainly"
"And yet you must have known,
you must have seen-you are woman
enough for that-that cared a great
deal for your opinion"
II will not deny it, Mr.. Gormly,"
returned the girl "Things you have
said, not so much that perhaps as tho
way you have said them, have led me
to think so. But I really never i'm.
agined-You see there is so much diff.
ference"
II know that am almost old enough
to be your father" returned the man
gravely. II am no boy. Therefore,
am the more sure and convinced OF
what say, and you can be the more
sure also that love you.'
ut Is a great honor that you pay
me-" began the woman.
''Wait!" said the man. II am not
through. I did not intend to tell you
tonight. AS say, was going to wait
until had something worth while to
offer; but things that have learned
have made it necessary in my judg.
ment to inform you of this fact at
once"
What things, Mr.. Gormly? Is some
one making charges against you OF
discovering things about you?'
mot one. 1t is not of myself am
thinking"
"Of whom! OF what them"
"As I said BEFORE" returned the
man, IT can say no more. 1t seems to
me that now my honor demands that
put you in possession Of the state OF
my feelings. 1 am not asking you if
you care anything for me. 1 realize
that you could not 1t is easy for me
to have fallen in love with you, in.
deed I don't see how l could have
helped 1t; but the case with you is
different. And want you to know.
whatever happens in these closing
days Of the campaign, that do truly
and devotedly love you. Great God!
Miss Haldane, haven't used these
words to soul since I was boy. You
can't know what they mean to me,
what would like to have them mean
to you. Some day, it may be soon.
shall ask you to be my wife; but
now all that want to impress upon
you is that whatever happens to me
or anyone, am pledged to you in my
heart forever. Nothing can make any
difference in my feelings. You I'M
derstand that?"
II understand entirely" she said.
"And you-you will-do you think
He stopped. NO" he said. II shall
stop there, with this moment, with
this statement 1 ask nothing, I ex.
pect nothing, and SO far as man can
crush down his own feelings, hope
for nothing. just want you to know
the fact"
II know It," was the answer. Now.
you must let me say something. am,
at least I believe myself to be, abso.
lutely heart free. Sometimes l have
thought that what you have said
might be true, with regard to your
feelings I mean; but have tried to
put it out of my mind. Your declara.
ton, therefore, comes to mo with a
certain measure Of surprise. You have
not asked me anything. and 1t IS Just
as well that you have not. think
can say honestly and truthfuily that
I do not care for you now in the way
you seem to care for me-"
"Seem to care for you:" cried the
man impulsively.
The way you do care for ME them
returned the. weman.