The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1911-03-31

| please SIT down again. i want your
advice-for a friend. You're not go.
ing to leave us right away?"
oh, no; can stay for-for little
time"
Three months-four months?" The
girl leaned forward eagerly.
Well, hardly think SO. I want
to get established before the summer
is too far advanced"
oh" A pause so you're going
into business?"
| Yes; that is, I think So"
rs that SO personal that you didn't
want to tell mel" There was an ac-
cusing emphasis on the me"
Douglass did not attempt to answer.
One of my girl friends doesn't
know Just what to do. william. You
see. she's-she's-in love-"
Obi"
That oh was dreadfully noncom.
initial. William. Aren't you inter.
ested?"
Why. yes, certainly, Miss Anne"
We'll. she doesn't know whether
the young man isis in love with
Htr OF not.
Cant she tell?"
She isn't sure. She thinks he likes
her. but"
"Yes?"
oh. there are complications, Will
liam. She is rich. and the young man
is poor. She feels he's to proud to
speak"
oh"
We'll, what is she going to dor
She's-she's cried herself to sleep,
I'm afraid, good many times; and
yet there doesn't seem to be any way
to make him speak"
William looked up. The dark eyes
gazed innocently and perplexedly into
his own.
There isn't any way, I'm afraid"
he said, with an unconscious sigh.
IF the man has self.respect, he can't
be fortune hunter. He must make
his own way before he can ask the
girl to be his wife"
She's thought OF that, too. But II
seems SO foolish! They may have to
walt years. and grow old and with.
cred while he makes a lot of money
they don't need. Isn't marriage an
equal partnership? Why hasn't the
wife the right to bring money to the
union as her husband?"
From an impersonal standpoint,
she has," replied william. but i'll
were that young man l would feel
as he feels. He cannot IN honor
speak while his motives could be
misconstrued. Her friends would
say"
Bother her friends!" Miss Anne
looked confused when she realized
the emphasis she had put on the
three-words, but only for a moment.
Then she added: That's the way
she feels. She says she has a right
to her own happiness. no matter
what people think or say. She is
satisfied he is not a fortune hunter:
that he is upright and honorable.
and the man nature intended as her
mate. Why can't he be sensible and
speak"
She leaned forward in her chair,
her lips dropping In childlike per.
plexity. Douglass got up hastily and
backed away. He did not want to lose
his carefully acquired grip and make
a fool Of himself. That's why he was
leaving Thornybrook-to keep from
making fool Of himself. He fumbled
his hat and turned to the door.
He can't. that's ALL" declared
Douglass, when his hand had closed
on the knob. Its an fmpossibility.
Miss Anne. II you were In his place
you'd realize" He stopped; he
was confusing the other mans case
with his own. /
Don't you want to know who the
girl is?" asked Miss Thornton, I'm.
steadily. She had risen and her fin.
gers were intertwined.
why, yes" Douglass somehow
felt the name Of that girl to be the
most important thing in the world.
The robins had ceased their billing
and cooling to listen. But he feared
Miss Anne's words would be drowned
by the humping OF his heart.
"It's-it's-" Her voice died away.
And then 1t began again, broke and
went on to triumphant conclusion:
"oh. Billy. you stupid. stupid boy!
lists Anne Thornton!"
Douglass stared unbelievingly, saw
In her face what he had never dared
to hope to see and dropped his hat.
He rushed back.
The next moment she was In his
arms. half-laughing and half-crying.
How I've longed to call you .Bil.
ly!'" she said.
And how I've longed to call you
said he.