The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1911-12-22

,fjsSgS& You know very well wha
eANSINyS mean. 1t would be foolish
EyEg2Y worse than foolish--fol
E#S8NI us to marry and-it is MOI
because do not love you
George" she added, earnestly.
What on earth is necessary-ex
cept love?" asked the impatient man.
The girl laughed. "Much-mucE
more" she said. "You admit, for in
stance, that you are absolutely bored
to death in the country, that picnics
any kind of outing where you have to
get down to nature is uninteresting ia
you. Even today you chafe under the
discomfort of having to sit on a messy
mound instead Of in a mahogany arm
chair with leather hassock at your
feet. You would rather hear the clang
of a trolley car than the song of a
bird; you would rather eat a six
course dinner in a brilliantly lighted
restaurant with music and the gay
chatter Of many companions than sit
down quietly in your own home to a
simple domestic meal with-with a
single woman for a vis-a-vis. While,
I-well, set down all the opposites of
the things you live for and you have
what like. Don't you see, George?"
For time the man did not answer.
He counted the buttons on his CATERS
with the tip of his walking stick.
rs it as bad as that, girl?" he asked.
"Are we as far apart as that?"
Eleanore nodded while she looked
straight into his eyes. 1--WE are" she
repeated, "even as far as that"
"And there we stand-do WEI"
"Yes-you in the city with all the
lights turned on you; l in the quiet,
peaceful country with only the eyes
of my family and my friends to see
me and all of nature to commune
with"
st doesn't look like a very happy
prospect for a life together, Eleanore.
We're old enough to see that--even in
our 20's-aren't we? But OH" and
there was a great longing tenderness
In his yoice-I do love you. do want
you, dear"
The girl turned away. Presently she
rose to go. There was no buoyancy in
her movement. At last, the thing she
had been fearing had come to pass.
They had had their explanation--they
had tried to have>an understanding as
to why they could not marry each
other. There was no further hope
that he would tire of the life she con-
sidered artificial the life she had been
brought up in and--hated. Always,
she had longed for the country and
when she began to realize that she
loved George Davidson it was with
fading hope that she studied his life,
his fancies, his preferences. He loved
every inch of the merry avenues Of the
crowded cities, every atom of their ex-
istence.
On the way home the man told her
frankly that if he could not have her
If she could not marry him and take
a chance with it all-he would put her
out of his life. He, manlike, was will
ing to take any chance to have her for
his wife; but then, she explained to
him, he had not given it the thought
that was necessary.
well, I'll travel" Eleanore told him
when they were parting. 81 want to
see rural France and Germany and
with you out of my life, GEORGE
might be lonely" she said little visit
fully. She looked hastily away that
he might not see the effort with which
she kept the sparkling tear-drop from
tumbling down her cheek. "And-if
find that | can come back and-and
live with my ear on the trolley track,
come and let you know. Mean
time, you shall not know where am"
she said, an almost imperceptible
break in her voice She had tried to
be gay, but she had failed dismally-
and she knew he knew it.
"All right. girl" the man said. hold
ing her hand closely in his own. "Since |
you're afraid of adding to the long list |
of mis-mates among our friendship |
remain as | am. I'll have you or no
one, mate or mis-mate Good-by."
He strobe off with never a look be-
hind and she knew he was gone out
of her life until-"Oh, forever" she |
said, as she dashed away the foolish
tears that pushed each other from her
eyes.
True to her word, she travelled. She
here and there and enjoyed
things as only woman Of her caliber
ian enjoy the beautiful, rare old things
she had read of and heard of all her
life.
When she returned to her own coun-
Try 1t was to take up her profession Of
In the country this time
She found home in the rectory of an
I'D church. The minister was family
friend, and she went into the family :
o tutor his two children with the priv
lege of having a few others during
i'd hours in the week.
She spent many happy days with the
..Lldren; she taught them everything
he, knew how TO teach them. from