The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1910-12-03
coOUtrAA IDla ~ Wlnabsl Smilh
snd Leafs Joseph Vhnos
fcontlnued from yesterday.)

Continued from yesterday)
sorry for" he enfreated wildly
II can't help it; Eve got to- 1t was
1T was because wanted to be with
you. ThereP' she gasped. frightened
by her own forwardness- Now I've
DUNCAN grasped franticalIy at
straws. But you don't really mean
Il, Josie. YOu-know you don't" ne
doundered. You're just saying thar
because you-you have such a kind
heart and-ah-don't want to hurt me
-ah-because"-
.4Nat," she said gently. looking up
into his face. would It make you hap
by to know really meant II r
ssWhy-ah-wty shouldn't It, JosieF
.aThen please believe me when say
.But do believe It. p. He STAN
mered and fell still.
Because 90 like you Nat, very
much. and-and it's very hard for me
to know that folks think I'm pursuing
you and that you're trying to avoid
me-"
..Josier' he exclaimed reproachfully.
'rWelI. that's the way It looks" she
affirmed plaintiTely. you don't want
it to, do your
why, no; OF course don't"
-sThen why don't you stop it?' She
watched his face, her manner coy and
yielding. Nat" she said In softer
voice. 'if you IKE me as wen as ] like
He moved away a pace or two.
'.Ah, child" he said, with feeling
that the term was not misappiied
somehow, you don't know what
you're sayingF'
eyes, / do" she pouted. 81 don't
believe you care anything about me-"
''oh, Josie, Please
""Well, anyway you've never told me
So" She turned an indignant shoulder
to him.
'.How could II"
why couldn't your"
'sBut don't you see that shouldn't,
Josie?" He turned back to her side.
looked down at her, pleaded his de-
tense with the fire of desperation
Just think you are an only daugh'
ter''-just what this had to do with
the case was not plain even to him
IAN only daughter" he repeated-'ah
not only your fathers only daughter,
but your mothers only daughter
Your father-ah-is my friend. How
Unfair it would be to him to-
But the girl interrupted with deci-
sion ''But papa wants you to. he
told me So"
he could only pretend not to under
stand. ''But consider, Josie. You are
rich, an heiress. I'm poor man
Would you like it to be said I was
after your money!
mo one would dare say such q
thing" she asserted, with profound
conviction.
''oh, yes, they would! You don't
know the world as do. And for all
you know they might be right. How
do you know that
'crIatT A catch IN her voice stopped
him Don't say such horrid things!
1 could ten-a woman always can.
know you would be incapable of such
thing. Papa knows it too. No one
has ever got ahead of papa, and he
says you are fine, steady, Christian
man and he would rather see me your
wife than any
'rJosieT'
The Interjection; was so imperative
that she was siIenced. "Why, what,
Natl" she asked, rising
The time has come" he declared.
You must know the truth"
'.Oh. Natw
I'm not what you think me-" he
continued dramatically.
"Oh, Natl"
"Nor whatiyour father thinks me.
nor what anybody else In this town
thinks me- I'm not a regular Chris
tIan-It's >all BLUR. didn't know
anything about a church till I came
here. L smoke, and drink, and l
swear, and gamble, and I only cut
them all out in order to trick you into
caring for mel
."oh, Nat, don't believe itI''
"Alas, JOSIE" he protested violently.
ats true, only too trueI"
'But you did it to win my love-
Nat7'
"Ye-es." He saw suddenly that he
had made a fatal mistake.
''Then, Nat, I win be your wife In
spite OF all"
He found himself suddenly caught
about the neck by the girls arms.
His head was drawn down until her
cheek caressed his and he felt her lips
warm upon his own.
"JosieF' he gasped. q
''Sat, my dariingF'
With a supreme efEort he pulled
himself together and embraced the
girl. Josie" he said earnestly, Il
Pm going to try Co be a good husband
to you. And that" he concluded, soto
Yoce, wasn't In the agreement"
She held him to her passtonntely-
Dearest, I'm so gladP'
- 80 I'M ~