The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-03-23

cussing 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-shes-in love-
THAT oh was dreadfully nom
eommittal. William. Aren't you in
terested2"
Why, yes. certainly. Miss Anne"
Well, she doesn't know whether
the young man is is in love with her
Cant she temp
She isn't sure. She thinks he likes
her, but"
'Yes?"
"Oh. there are complications. Will
lam. she is rich and the young man
is poor. She feels he's too proud to
speak"
oh
We'll. what is she going 10 do?
She 's-she's cried herself TO sleep, I'm
afraid, good many times; and yet
there doesn't seem 70 be any way TO
make him speak"
William looked up The dark. eyes
gazed innocently and perplexed into
his own.
There isn't any way, I'm afraid. :"
ne 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
wait years. and grow old and withered
while ne makes a lot Of money they
oOh need. Isn't marriage an equal
partnership? Why hasn't the wife
the right to bring money to the union
as well as her husband?"
FROM an impersOnal standpoint.
she has. replied William, but IL /
were that young man l would feel as
ne feels. He cannot in honor speak
whlle MS motives could be miscon-
Strued. 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
sne 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 fortune hunter; that he is up
right and honorable. and the man ma
ture intended as her mate Why
can't he be sensible and speak,"
She leaned forward. in-her chair
her lips dropped in child-like perpIex-
ity. Douglass got up hastily and
packed away. He did not want to
lose HIS carefully acquired grip and
make fool of himself. That's WHY
ne was leaving Thornybrook-to keep
from making a 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. It's an impossibilitv.
Miss Anne. II you were in his place
you'd realize" He STONED: he
was confusing the other mans case
with his own.
Don't you want to know who the
girl is?' asked Miss Thornton. un-
steadily. She had risen and her fling
ers 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 heir billing
and cooling to listen. But he feared
Miss Anne's words would be drowned
by the humping OF his heart.
ts-it s. Her voice died
away. And then il began again, broke
ana went on 70 a triumphant concIu-
sion:
oh, Billy. you stupid. stupid boy,
It's Anne Thornton!"
Douglass started unbelievingly. saw
I'm 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. hall laughing and half cryingS
How I've longed to call yc
Billy she said.
And how I've longed to call vou-
darling!" said he