Mexico Missouri message., 1911-02-09

turned into the road and had diSap-
pcared over the bill.
"You have promised" she said TO
him, mot to give me any advice as To
what | shall do
"Ycs." he replied. "and In that prom
Use was an implied promise that /
would not discuss the matter with
you"
But | wish you would" she sail.
II ask you to- need some comfort: |
need some help"
Dora" he saids turned aul
looked fun iu his eyes. for the nppolln.
ton came as novelty from him /
am going to keep my promise aud let
you make your decision as rtga'Ga
this particular experience absolutely
of your own accord. mt least unlntiu-
cnccd 10y me-"
And yet you believe that should
go on with It. do you notT'
"Dora"-the fact of previous lngual
exercise gave the young mans voice
an authority and softncss as lie pro-
nounced the name this time-"Dora,
you mustn't try to lead me to break
:
u promise even by the merest shadow.
1t IL particularly sacred promise be-
cause II concerns you But what we
ran talk about, II you will permit me,
Is something that also concerns you
and me"
They were both too sincere. too hon
est and endowed with too keen II
e ~ n a.. HnuliyA A
they were fairly well prepared for the
subject which Holcomb was about to
Introduce.
you don't mlnd-my-calling-
Dora 2" he said hesitatingy, though
with a smile.
IL should probably have registered
my objection before this II ] thought
the matter had warranted any partic-
ular reproof."
"You know" he said as they walked
slowly along. his eyes on the ground
and his mind working strcnuouSly.
while she watched his face. II healthy.
vigorous embarrassment giving 1t bit
Of color, her own flushed with excite.
mcnt and plcasurable anticipation.
You know some one has said that
romance consists of love affair he
tween two people who are positively
ill mated"
That's pretty severe" said the girl.
isn't II. and rather cynical?"
Its the cynical things" replied Hol
comb. that sharpen a mans sense
OF truth They are the milestone OF
proportion. am going very carefully
about what | have to say to you be
cause II means 50 much to me and
because Of n little fear that | may
have made 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
10 make his voice unsteady. 81 would
rather go on In silence. thinking that
you loved me a little and knowing
that / 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
iy. "even II friendship could be n mat
ter of business" AS she spoke her
eyes shone with depth of feeling, aud
she smiled happily.
He laughed gayly at the reproof. 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 a mat
ter that you must decide, but let me
help you decide a more important en-.
gagement"-now came the great mo
mcnt for both Of them-"an engage
ment for all time"
They had come to turn of the road
beyond which the town opened NJ
rather suddenly. She turned her head
slowly away from him. He stopped
and took her other hand and drew hel
toward him.
is 1t yesT" he asked.
Now she turned her face upward
toward his and said with all the ten
dcrness Of a true woman: 'Willard
shall say Willard?-l am more
than sure that love you. Some OF
the happlest moments that | have hat
have been with you" Tears wellet
into her eyes. 81 would like to fee
thoroughly free TO say yes. Bat euery
thing that feel like doing Of my or,
iofll has the quality Of an Impending
doom"
THAT is the fault, Dora, If you vii
pardon my saying so. of your Aun
COrnelia and her sponge cake"
81 feel that you are right" she said
"but even there l feel that am com
hitting some great sin In either speak
Ing dlsrespectfully or thinking al
yersely OF my aunt. To me she repre-
sents fate and the moralities"-
"And the dreadful puritanical con
science! Let us forget about Aun
Cornelia. Let US just remember tina
there are only you and I-you and
with our love and life and health anC
our romance
What did your cynic say about
romancef" she asked.
Il quoted that because OF the com
pelling power Of exception We ara
the exception. quoted It because
wanted to be sure that we weren't
ill mated"
do you want me to say yes now
I