The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1911-12-07

morrow"
Nor did be dreara that hsr icw 60
ruIssceace vas due. - much a. amp
thing else, 20 the beads Of sweat a
his forehead. his trembling hand and
his all too-<~idsnt general dtstress-
~os course. there's 10 way c. tall
ing what anybody wants from what
they say Daylight rubbed Bots re-
bellious ear with his auirt and pon-
sered with dissatisfaction the words
he had lust uttered They did not
say what lie had meant them to say.
What I'm driving Ct ID that you say
na,foc.ed that you won't meet me
again. and gfve your reasons. but how
am TO know they are your real rea-
sons? Aebbe you Just don't want TO
get acquainted with me, and won't say
60 for fear Of hurting my feelings
Don't you see. I'm the last man In
the world TO shove IN where I'm not
wanted. And II I thought you didn't
care a whoop to see anything more OF
me. why I'd clear out DO blamed quick
you couldn't see me for smoke"
II had been a happy day. Daylight
had Elet her on the back-road from
Berkeley, and they had had hours to-
gether. Il was only now. with the
day drawing TO a close and with them
approaching the gate OF the road TO
Berkeley, that he had preached the
important subject
She began her answer to his last
contention, and he listened gratefully.
"But suppose, just suppose, that the
reasons | have given are the only
ones THAT there Is no question OF
my not wanting to know your"
Then I'd go on urging like Sam
Scratch" he said quickly. because,
you see, I've always noticed that folks
that incline to anything are much
more open to hearing the case stated.
But II you did have that other season
I'D your sleeve, IL you didn't want to
know me, ff-if. well, II you thought
my feelings oughtn't to be hurt just
because you had good job with me.
:" Here, his calm consideration
of a possibility was swamped by the
fear that 1t was an actually, and he
lost the thread of his reasoning.
well, anyway, all you have to do Is
to say the word and I'll clear out.
And with no hard feelings; 1t would
be just a case Of bad luck for me. So
be honest, Miss Mason, please, and
tell me II that's the reason-I almost
got bunch that 1t IL"
"Oh, but that isn't fair" she cried.
'sYou give me the choice Of lying to
you and hurting you in order to pro-
tect myself by getting rid of you, or
Of throwing away my protection by
telling you the truth, for then you, as
you said yourself, would stay and
urge"
Daylight smiled grimly with salts
faction.
"Tm real glad, Miss Mason, real
glad for those words"
But they won't serve you," she
went on hastily. "They can't serve
you. refuse to let them. This is our
last ride, and here is the gate"
Ranging her mare alongside, she
bent, slid the catch, and followed the
opening gate.
mo; please, no." she said, as Day.
light started to follow.
Humb1y acquiescent, he pulled Bob
back, and the gate swung shut be-
tween them. But there was more to
say, and she did not ride on.
Listen, Miss Mason" he said, in q
low voice that shook with sincerity;
Il want to assure you of one thing.
I'm not just trying to fool around with
you. I like you, I want you, and I
was never more earnest in my life.
There's nothing wrong in my inten-
tons or anything like that. What
mean Is strictly honorable"
But the expression of her face made
him stop. She was angry, and she
was laughing at the same time
Dede Mason had quick, birdlike
ways, almost fitting from mood to
mood; and she was all contrition on
the instant.
Forgive me for laughing" she said
across the gate. cit wasn't really
laughter. I was surprised off my
guard, and hurt, too. You see, Mr..
Harnish, I've not been =. ~
She paused, in sudden fear Of com
pleting the thought into which her
birdlike precipitancy had betrayed
her.
What you mean Is that you've not
been used to such sort of proposing"