Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1911-06-30


interrupt you"
$50 you left me to go home with
him?"
''Why. what else"-
you're making me awful unhap-
py" Her voice trembled. You knew
l didn't want to walk home with Ro-
land"
How could | know that?" Ill
~ should think you ought to know
it. Nat. unless you're blind. Besides.
| told you once"
True" he fenced desperately. but
that was q long time ago. and how
could be sure you hadn't changed
your mind: Besides. you know, l
mustn't monopolize you. If do
"Wpll!"
"Why. if | do-ah"- ..
"If you're afraid people will talk
about u.s. seeing us 50 much together.
you needn't worry. They're doing
that now"
why. Josie!' "
"Yes. they are. We've been going to-
sether SO long. And even now you
don't seem glad to see me-"
You should know am"
"You don't act like it."
"lt's so unexpected" he muttered
wretchedly.
You didn't really think wanted
Roland Barnette to go home with me
Wednesday night. did you. Nat?'
ut seemed so. but that's all right.
Why shouldn't you?"
She turned to him. trembling a lit
tie. Must tell you. Nat?'
"Oh. no. be cried In dismay.
"PleaSe don't!'
81 seq must" she persisted. you're
81 Lind. IT,
Josie. don't say anything you'll be
sorry for" he entreated wildly.
Il can't help it; I've got to. 1t was
1T was because wanted to be with
you. Therer' she gasped. frightened
by her own forwardness. Now I've
said it,
Duncan grasped franticaily at
straws. But you don't really mean
it. Josie. You know you don't" he
Goundered. You're just saying that
because you-ya have such a kind
heart and ah-don't want to hurt me
--ah BECAUSE
Nat" she said gently. looking up
into his face. would ii make you hap
by tn know | really meant it?"
"Why-aii why shouldn't 1t. Josie?'
"rhen please believe me when | say
It,"
"Eu, 90 believe it. r. He STAN
merpd and fell still.
because | do like you. MT. 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-"
"Josiew ha exclaimed reproarhfully.
well, that's the way 1t looks" she
affirmed plaintively. "You don't want
it to, do your"
"Why, no; of course don't"
''Then why don't you stop it?" She
watched his face. her manner coy and
yielding. Nat" she said In a softer
voice. IF you like me as we'll as like
you
He moved away pace or two.
"Ah, child" he said. with feeling
that the term was not misapplied
somehow. you don't know what
you're saying!''
"Yes. 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 you?
"But don't you see that shouldn't,
JOSEF" 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
"an only daughter" he repeated-"ah.
not only your fathers only daughter.
but your mothers only daughter.
Your father-ah-is my friend. How
unfair 1t 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 1t to be said l was
after your money"
mo one would dare say such a
thing" she asserted. with profound
conviction.
"Oh. yes, they would. You don't
know the world rs | do. And for all
you know they might DO right. How
do you know that
"Nat! A catch In her voice stopped
him. Don't say such horrid things!
| could tell-a woman always%can. l
know you would be Incapable Of such
q thing. Papa knows 1t too. No one
has ever got ahead of papa, and he
says you are a fine. steady, Christian
man and he would rather see me your
wife than any
JOSIE
The interjection was so imperative
that she was silenced. "Why. what.
NutT she asked, rising.
The time has come" he declared.
You must know the truth"
"Oh. Natl"
I'm not what you think me-" he
continued dramatically.
"Oh. Nat"
Nor what your father thinks me,
nor what ANYBODY else in this town