The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-01-06

1t was through the s%elf.verdict that
he was an unutterable, sneaking cad
Of a coward! He rejoiced in calling
himself names.
Now he knew that love is-love!
It takes you up and you belong to it
and cherish 1t your life long! You
love-because you love, and II the
lady Of your heart be a tender plant.
q fragile flower, you love her and
guard her the more because she needs
YOU and your strength! It was all
very clear and made him ineffably
happy for two days and a night.
Then he awakened to new torture!
What use was anything If, while
he had been %hesitating, the other
nan had won her? This thought
made him sore and sick, and he
finished his days work like Al evil,
feverish dream. He fastened home
to his boarding house, swallowed his
supper, and then with a lovers care.
fulness, made himself immaculate.
He would 60 ard Q her.
But 1t was not until he was starting
that he remembered he did not know
exactly where she lived. He had been
keeping away from her, avoiding
mention Of her, and here he was un.
able to find her! All he knew was
what he knew from her-he asked
her how she stood the heat downtown
one September day of unreasonable
heat and she had answered simply:
I'm not downtown don't work
I stay at home"
OF course she was a pampered
child; her appearance told him that.
He had heard, he could not have said
where, that she had no mother, and
lived with her father and several sis
ters-he never saw the sisters-old
maids who made a business Of pettina
her. no doubt. He wondered If they
would object to him, whether he could
convince them he would be tender
with her? And oil this before he had
once called upon the girl!
Finally he went to a drug store
directory and found her street and
number.
And in the dusk of a.warm Octo.
Der evening he found the little street
and the little cottage where she lived.
He saw no light. but he went up the
winding path through the deep, tree.
guarded yard and to the small, sim.
pie dwelling. e
Sitting alone on the small porch, he
was aware of her, and that she o
and came toward him, timidly, until
she saw who It was.
"You!" she breathed in a tone soft
as a caress, while he took her hand,
and stood holding it, though she
would have withdrawn it.
Eyes, II" he replied in a tense
voice. Lois, 1 can't wait to say 1t
prettily and work up to ft-but I've
been in torment since the first min.
ute I met you, because love you
so. Lois! Can't you see that I've
loved you so much that I could not
trust myself to come near you for
fear my heart would come out Of
me and drop to your hand! That
first time L danced with you I came
a telling you I'd give my soul
just to kiss you once-1 bit my
tongue and managed to keep still!
Now, girl, girl, could you marry me
could you trust me to take care
of you? ] won't let the wind blow
on you even. If you will give me my
chance!"
He paused, GREATNESS, because.
wonder of wonders, she was listen.
ing, and her gentle head was very
put his hand behind It and brought
1t close. And then he stopped and
kissed her, and knew that her cheek
was wet with tears.
Dear" he said, what is It? Why
are you crying?"- and then she
laughed and wiped her eyes, but her
hands chung to him.
I'm laughing because you should
think I need so much coddling a
girl who does all the work for a
father and three little sisters! Father
ts going to marry again, and they're
wild for a new mother-but I'm not!"
Here she paused, but he remembered
the tears.
But why were you crying? Tell
me-" But she was shy about 1t.
well" she finally said, "since you
must know It'll was glad. I had
begun to think OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
ask mel"
And then the happy lover laughed
and held the girl very close.