The Delta independent., 1910-07-08

But Roger was too clever to un-
mask his batteries at once. He had
SO carefully nursed his intimacy with
this girl all these months. had been
outwardly SO chivalrously friendly and
considerate. that he was usually a
welcome caller. He was a good
talker; he took care to be wise in the
news of the day; and knowing more
about Eunice than she knew of her
self be was astutely able to interest
her in many rather unexpected ways.
But for the bug6ear of his hopeless at
tachment lurking in the background
the girl would have been at all times
carefree in his society-that is, as
long as he kept the one forbidden sub
ject bottled up under his waistcoat.
Tonight. however. she detected .
tenseness of latent purpose in Roger
Hews which doubtless he f1attered
himself was wholly hidden. and which
certainly his first words did not re-
veal. for his talk was all about the
great railroad strike then raging.
AS the evening wore on, and John
Trevecca failed to make his usual
nine o'clock appearance. Hews in
Quired:
Where is your father tonight?"
Il think he has gone upstairs" said
Eunice. who had been hoping this
question would not be asked. In
fact" she went on hurriedly. Il am
quite worried about him; he has taken
a heavy cold. and his asthma is al
ways worse at such times"
Il do not wish to alarm you," said
NIT Lett lot of
sympathy in his voice; but l have
noticed that he is aging rapidly; he
is not the man he was year ago"
"Oh. do you really think that?" eI-
claimed Eunice regretfully. and quick
to take alarm. HE is perhaps not as
vigorous as he used to be, but hope
he will be spared to me for many.
many years! He is my only relative
in the world; II should lose him
and the ready tears came into her
eyes for the sole parent she had ever
known.
1T is nothing serious. l guess" said
Roger with off-hand. soothing convic-
tion but your father ought to be en-
joying leisurely old age; at his time
of life he should not have to work"
Eunice nodded her head in quick
assent.
so l have told him. Mr.. Hews,
again and again. But he persists in
saying that he must toll on at the
shops in order that he may keep add
ing to the little pile of savings which
is to save me from want when he is
dead and gone"
THAT is a noble object" said Hews
with real sincerity, but you have 1t
in your power to render all that labor
unnecessary, and to make your father
comfortable for the rest of his life"
Il don't see" began Eunice, when.
with a wave of color flooding face and
forehead, she suddenly did see. How
silly and blind to give him such q
good opening, she thought.
Roger Hews was quick TO seize his
chance-in fact. he had cleverly led
up to this very point.
"At the risk of offending you, Miss
Eunice." he struck in. 81 must recur
to the proposal / made you once be-
fore. Marry me. and your father need
not worry about his future or your
own. They will both be my care
then"
You promised" said the girl re.
proachfully. but he took the words out
of her mouth in his surcharge of feel
ing.
II promised-I know it--never to
recur to the theme SO near to my
heart without your permission. ] have
broken the promise because can
keep silence no longer. Eunice. love
you, dearly, madly, devotedly. with all
the strength Of a man who has never
loved before. ! cannot live without
you, and / will not. Be my wife,
Eunice. be my wife,"
His agitation was almost pitiable to
see. The self-contained and calcu-
lating nature of the man seemed sud-
denly thawed and melted as the cold
steel ingot is liquefied by the hot
breath OF the retort. In the intensity
of his passion his voice trembled, his
eyes blazed. his pale face assumed a
brickish-red tinge; he left his seat
and came to her side, putting one
hand on her shoulder. and striving to
take her unwilling fingers with the
other.
All a-quiver and unstrung he waited
for her answer. With bent head and
averted gaze Eunice almost turned
her back on him. A wave OF repulsion
and disgust swept over her. for the
vehement force of which she was un.
able to account. Not to save her IA
ther from hundred deaths could she
marry the middle-aged wooer! Never
had Roger Hews been 30 insistent; /;
never had she felt less like granting
what he demanded.
With an effort, evading his grasp.
Eunice rose and stood facing him, the
chair between them.
II am sorry." she said, in tones full
OF womanly sympathy, that you have