Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1911-12-14

tfrCt1s9ySyi WORSE sludu lOOll6ll"lOE
sSsS US to marry and--it is not
because l do not love you.
George" she added. earnestly.
What on earth is necessary-ex-
cept love?" asked the impatient man.
The girl laughed. "Much-much
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 to
you. Even today you chafe under the
discomfort Of having to sit on a messy
mound instead of in mahogany arm
chair with leather hassock at your
feet. You would rather hear the clang
of trolley car than the song of a
bird; you would rather eat six
course dinner in 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 vis-a-vis. While,
well, set down all the opposites Of
the things you live for and you have
what l 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.
"Is it as bad as that. girl?" he asked.
Are we as far apart as that?"
IT'S long distance" he admitted.
And can't you see that it's true?"
Eleanore asked. suspicion of hope In
her tone.
George Davidson was perfectly
frank; it was one Of the charms OF
his character to the girl.
What you have just said to me
seems true enough" he began. even
though you put it a trifie brutally. I'm
not bored anywhere that you are and
Pm not chatting this instant for lack
of an easy chair, but-I'm not a devo-
tee of rural life. prefer comfort
able flat downtown to house in the
country; l find the gay life of the the
aters and restaurant very interesting
and entertaining. never could see
the beauty of sitting down on the
grass to eat cold sandwiches and drink
coffee made over smoky bonfire.
though I've done 1t many time. It's
so much easier and cleaner and more
comfortable to go to good hotel and
sit On real chair. Now-isn't it?"
He looked at her.
She laughed a little. 1t was all SO
true, from his standpoint. "Of course
it's easier" she replied, land nicer, too.
if you fancy 1t. !"
Eleanore nodded while she looked
straight into his eyes. I'VE are" she
repeated, even as far as that
"And there we stand-do we?"
"Yes-you in the city with all the
lights turned on you; 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
ut doesn't look like 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 voice-"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 beef
brought up in and-hated. Always,
she had longed for the country and
when she began to realize that she
loved George Davidson 1T was with
fading hope that she studied his life,
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 II 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.
We'll, I'll travel" Eleanore told him
when they were parting. Il 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 teardrop from
tumbling down her cheek "And-if !
find that can come back and-and
live with my ear7cn the trolley track.
I'll-1'll 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 friends-I'll
remain as / am. I'll have you or no
one, mate or mis-mate. Good-by."
He strobe OF with never 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
journeyed here and there and enjoyed
things as only a woman Of her caliber
can enjoy the beautiful. rare old things
she had read Of and heard Of all her
life.