The Washington herald., 1910-12-25

= his quirt ana pondered with dissatiSfac.
ton the words he bad just uttered They
did not say what he meant them TO say. What
I'm driving at is that you say hat-footed that you
won't meet me again. and you give your reasons
but how am l 10 know they your real reasons?
Mebbe you just don't want to get acquainted with
NE, and won't say SO for fear Of hurting my feel
ngs. Don't you sea Pm the last man in the world
TO shove in where I'm not wanted. And if / thought
you didn't care a whO0p 10 anything more Of me,
why, Ia clear out 50 blamed quick you couldn't see
me Tor smoke"
Dede SMILED at him in acknowledgment Of his
words. but rode on silently And that smile. he
thought was the most sWeety wonderful smile lie
had ever seen. There a difference IL il he
sured himself from any smiles she had ever given
him before. Ii was the smile OF who knew him
just little bit, OF who just the least mite
acquainted with him. OF course, he checked himself
up the next moment 1t unconscious on her part
1t was sure TO come in the intercourse OF any two
persons. Any stranger-a business man. clerk.
anybOdy-after few casual meetings wound show
similar signs Of friendliness II bound 10 hap
pen, but in her it made impression him,
and BESIDES it SUCH a sweet and wonderful smile.
Other women he had known had never smiled like
that; he sure Of it.
It had been a happy day. Daylight had met her
the back road from Berkeley and they had had
hours together. 1t was only now, with the day draw
ing 10 a close and with them approaching the gate
of the road to Berkeley, that he had preached the
important subject
She began her 10 bis last contention and
he listened gratefully.
But suppOSe-just suppose-that the reasons I
have given are the only ones-that there is ques-
ton of my not wanting TO know your
Then I'd go on urging like Sam Scratch" he said
quickly Because, you see, I've always noticed that
folks that incline anything are much more open to
hearing the stated. But if you did have that
other reason up your sleeve if you didn't want TO
know me. h-if-well. If you thought my feelings
OuShtnt TO be hurt just because you had good job
with me- Here his calm consideration Of pos
sibity was swamped by the fear that it
actually, and he lost the thread of his reasoning
Well anyway all you have to do is 10 say the word
and I'll clear out. And with no hard feelings 1t
would be just case of bad luck for me- So be hon
est Miss Mason, please, and tell me if that's the
son. l almost got bunch that it is"
She glanced up at him, her eyes abruptly and
slightly moist. half with hurt, half with anger.
"Oh, but that isn't fair!' she cried. you give me
the choice of lying TO you and hurting you IL order
to protect myself by getting rid Of you, of throw
ing away my protection by telling you the truth for
then you you said yourself, would stay aud urge"
Her cheeks were flushed, her lips tremulous, but
she continued to look him frankly in the eyes.
Daylight smiled grimy with satisfaction
I'm real glad, Miss MaSoni real glad Tor those
words"
But they won't serve you" she went on hastily.
"They can't serve you. l refuse to let them This
is our last ride, and-here is the gate"
Ranging her alongside, she bent slid the
catch and followed the opening gate
No; please no." she said, as Daylight started to
follow.
HumbIy acquiescent, he pulled Bob back and the
gate swung shut between them. But there was more
TO say, and she did not ride on.
Listen Miss Mason" he said in a tow voice that
shook with sincerity, Il want to assure you Of one
thing-Pm not just trying to fool around with Won
/ like you, l want you, and was never more in
earnest in my life. There's nothing wrong in nv in
tentions anything like that What l mean is
strictly honorable
Bat the expression Of her face made him stop She
was angry and she was laughing at the same time
The last thing you should have said" she cried
Its like IA matrimonial DEMONSTRATIONS strictly
honorable: object, matrmOny. But it's no more than
deserved. This is what l suppose you call urging
like Sam Scratch"