The Holbrook news., 1911-10-13
side acquaintance to come and see

SAUo dCQud1nIduC0 to come ana See her.
 He's tramp" said Balfour, sternly
 He isn't" said Louise.
 She was sure that he had been mas querading when he called upon her several days later, immediately ar. rayed in evening clothes. When however, she accused him, he shook his head. Now and then I take to the road" he said. q was not made to stay in one place."
 He came often, and as the months went on Louise found herself torn by conflicting emotions. Balfour had of. fered her his hand and fortune. Louise liked him. The vagabond, on the other hand, offered her nothing but his heart
 T should not have offered you that, he said, except that cannot see you unhappy as the wife of Balfour. cannot promise anything for myself, l am a rover by nature; but you shall not suffer for comforts. and I shall love you until my dying day"
 When Louise finally sent Balfour away and said "yes" to the vagabond, she had many doubts and misgivings.
 But, I love him." her heart whis- pered
 AS she planned her simple trous- seau, she thought regretfully of the gowns she would have worn as Bal four's wife. Her girl friends leased her about her future.
 You'll never stand it," they said.
 Balfour said things, too, when be met her one day. You don't know what you are doing, Louise" he told her
 It seemed to Louise that every doubt of her own was emphasized by the misgivings of her friends, and, at last, in desperation, she went to her lover. q don't believe I shall be happy with you"
 He let her go without protest, but the look in his eyes haunted her for many days. She threw herself into all sorts of excitement. Balfour wooed her, but she would not listen.
 Thus year passed, and again, one summers morning, Balfour took the woman he loved for a ride, This time, however, he did not leave this wooing until the end of the day. Louise, somewhat lonely, bored with the life that she had lived of late, was in a receptive mood.
 If I only loved you little." she said. T should say yes"
 You will love me after you marry me-" Balfour asserted
 1,,f.o ba rv1,,II Tn her moment of indecision her eyes searched the country, as If to seek some means of escape from a future which she dreaded Far up on the hillside a dogwood flung its white branches against a sapphire sky. Un- der the trees sat man, tall and thin and in shabby clothes.
 Louise's heart leaped. Let me out" she said to Balfour.
 But Balfour's eyes had seen his rival. Do you mean" he asked sternly, that you have not recovered from that infatuation? I won't let you out, Louise, if I do you will go to un- happiness"
 In days of old men carried oil their sweethearts on prancing steeds. Bal four, more modern, played young Lochinvar in an automobile. In spite of her protests. Louise was conveyed away from the spot where she had seen the tall man under the dogwood trees. When they reached home, how ever, Balfour was not prepared for her scorn-
 Do you think you can stop me from seeing him?" Louise demanded. '1 shall find him if I have to follow him to the ends of the earth"
 And she did find him a day or two later.
 It was a very humble Louise who came to him. You ought to hate me-" she said, but hope you still love me a little"
 The light that leaped into his eyes foolish Louise" he said, mot to stand the test"
 She looked at him in surprise. What test?" she demanded.
 q wanted to be sure you cared for me, not for my possessions. and now know"
 With more land than Balfour, more than any of her other suitors, he had chosen not to tell her, because he wanted the treasure of her disin- affection. And when she came back to him, ne knew that he had 1t
 You are more mine than ever be- fore," was his triumphant assertion.