The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1912-02-09

inineaec As fer as be could see
There was no sign ol uede or ne
smooth. tsss3 hills No the right
tfnpinf down into a hollow and rising
again. Vas 8 large tallygFpan eiicalspi
tus grove. Here ali was noise and
movement. the lofty slendertrtnked
trees swaying back and 10th IN sthe
wind and clashipg their branches TO.
gether. InSthe sqtiails above all the
minor noises Of creaking and. groan-
ing, arose deep thrlniming note as
OF q mighty harp. Knowing Dede as
he did, Daylight was confident that be
would find her somewhere in this
grove where the storm effects were 50
pronounced. And mud her he did,
across the hollow and on the exposed
crest of the opposing slope where the
gale smote It's flercest blows,
.lts the same old thing he said.
'.Iwant you and I've come for you
You've Just got to have me, Dede, for
the mofesI think about It the more
certain / am that you've got a sneak
ing liking for me that's something
more than just ordinary liking. And
you don't dast say that 1t isn't. now
dast yon?''
tPlease, please" she begged. I'VE
can never marry, SO don't let US dis
cuss It."
Daylight decided that action was
more efficient than speech. So he
stepped between her and the wind
and drew her SO that she stood close
in the shelter OF him. An unusually
stlft squall blew about them and
thrpmmed overhead in the tree-tops,
and both paused to listen. A shower
Of flying leaves enyeioped them, and
hard on the heel Of the wind came
driving drops ofrain. He looked down
on her and on her hair, wind'blcwn
about her face; and because Of her
closeness to him and Of a fresher and
more poignant realization Of what she
meant to him, he. trembled so that she
was aware of 1t in the hand that held
hers. She suddenly leaned against
him, bowling her head until It rested
lightly upon his breast. And SO they
stood while another squat, with fying
leaves and scattered drops of rain
ratified past. With equal suddenness
she lifted her head and looked at him.
DO you know" she said, 7 prayed
last night about you. prayed that
you would fail, that you would lose
everything everything.
Daylight stared his amazement at
this cryptic utterance.
THAT sure beats me. I'always said
/ got out OF my depth with women,
and you've got me out sof my depth
now. Well, you've Just got 70 ex,
plain, that's all" .3
His arms went around her and held
her closely, and this time she did not
resist. Her head was bowed, and he
could not see her face, yet be had a
ptemonition that she was crying. He
hadslearned the virtue Of silence, and
he waited her will IN the matter.
Things had come 10 such pass thae
she was boundIto tellshim something
now, ofthat'he was confident.
Il wonld dearly Ike to marry You"
she fa.tered, but | am afraid ] am
proud and humblegat the same time
that a man like you should care for
me! But you have too much money.
There's where my abominable COM
mon senee steps in. Even Il we did
marry, you could never be my man
my lover and my husband. You
would he your moneys man. | know
Il am a foolish woman, but ! want
my man for myself. And your
money destroys you; It makes you
less and iess nice. I am not ashamed
to say that / love you, because shall
never marry you. And loved you
much when did not know you at all,
when you first came down, from Alas.
ka and first went into the office. You
we're my hero. Yoirwere the Burning
Daylight Of the goid;diggings the dar.
ing traveller and miner. And you
looked it. | don't see how any wom-
an could nave looked at you without
loving you--then, But you don't hook
1t now. You, a man Of the open, have
en,coopilg yourself up IN the cities
With, all that thai. means You are.
becoming something different, some
thing not so healthy, not so clean, not
so nice. Your money and your way
of life are doing It. You know 1t. You
haven't the same body now that you
had then. You reaputtlng on flesh,
and 1t Is not healthy flesh You are
kind and genial with me, ! know, but
you are not kind and genial to all the
world as you were then. You have
become harsh and cruel. i do love
you, but l cannot marry you and de
stroy love. You are growing into a
thing that must in the end despise,
You can't help 1t. More than you
can possibly love me, do you love this
business game. This business-and
It's all perfectly useless, so far as you
are concerned claims all ofayeu. J
sometimes think 1t. would be easier to
share you equitatiy with another
woman than to share yeu with this
business. | might have half Of you, at
any rate. But this business would
49,. 80 hale ~ vou hi,t, nIha.fanths