The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1911-02-10

about what l have to say to you be-
cause Ii means so much to me and
because of a little fear that | may
have made a mistake. and perhaps
another fear that you may think | am
taking an unfair advantage of our
friendship"
He was talking very earnestly now,
and he could not repress the emotion
that swelled his heart and threatened
to make his voice unsteady. Il would
rather go on in silence, thinking that
you loved me little and knowing
that I loved you a great deal, than
to learn now that your friendship for
me was purely, solely a matter of
business"
"That isn't So" said the girl soft
ly, "even if friendship could be mat
ter of business" AS she spoke her
eyes shone with depth of feeling, and
she smiled happily.
He laughed gayly at the reproot, she
joining him.
"Thanks very much for the correc-
ton" he said. land ALSO" and he took
her hand as they walked along, for
the sentiment that preceded it.
Dora. whether you go on the stage
or not in this play of mine is mat
ter that you must decide, but let me
HELM YOU decide a more important en-
gagement"-now came the great mo-
ment for both of them-"an engage
ment for all time
They had come to turn of the road.
beyond which the town opened up
rather suddenly. She turned her head
SLOWLY away from him. He stopped
and took her other hand and drew her
toward him.
as it yes?" he asked.
Now she turned her face upward
toward his and said with all the ten
derness of a true woman: willard
shall I say Willard?-I am more
than sure that love you. Some of
the happiest moments that | have had
have been with you" Tears welled
into her eyes. 81 would like to feel
thoroughly free to say yes. But erery-
thing that / feel like doing Of my o,on
wil has the quality Of an impending
DOOM"
''That is the fault, Dora, if you will
pardon my saying so, of your Aunt
Cornelia and her sponge cake"
81 feel that you are right" she said,
"but even there feel that | am com
hitting some great sin in either speak
ing disrespectfully or thinking adj
versely of my aunt To me she repre-
sents fate and the moralities'-
"And the dreadful puritanical con
science Let us forget about Aunt
Cornelia Let us just remember that
there are only you and You and
with our love and life and health and
our romance
"What did your cynic say about
romance?" she asked.
81 quoted that because of the COM
polling power of exception. We are
the exception. l quoted it because
wanted to be sure that we weren't
Ill mated"
"Do you want me to say yes now,
Willard?"
81 want you to do what you think
is right. But. Dora. in the thought
that you will say yes my heart is
singing, and each drop of blood in me
is fired with new purpose, with new
resolve. There shall be the best that
is possible out of my life, and, God
give me strength and knowledge, there
shall be the best D ,ssible out of your
life and'-here the young man paused,
looked her fully in the eye and drew
her toward him-"out of the lives that
shall follow ours
She paused. Indecision seemed to
master her. Then, as though with
determined effort. she seemed to cast
from her mind some threatening
cloud.
81 think want to say yes now she
whispered