Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1912-08-08
CHAPTER XV.-Contlnued.

But through it all ran the golden
thread of love. At first he had been
content just to ride with Dede and to
be on comradely terms with her; but
the desire and the need for her in
creased. The more he knew Of her.
the higher was his appraisal. Had
she been reserved and naughty with
him. or been merely a giggling. SIM
pering creature of q woman, it would
have been different. Instead, she
amazed him with her simplicity and
wholesomeness, with her great store
of comradeliness. The latter was the
unexpected. He had never looked
upon woman In that way. Woman.
the toy; woman, the harry; woman,
the necessary wife and mother of the
races ofspring-all this had been his
expectation and understanding of
woman. But woman, the comrade and
playfellow and joyfellow-th1s was
what Dede had surprised him in. And
the more she became worth while, the
more ardently his love burned, un-
consciously shading his voice with
caresses, and with equal unconscious
ness f1aring up signal fires in his eyes.
Nor was she blind to it, yet, like many
women before her, she thought to play
with the pretty fire and escape the
consequent conflagration."
winter will soon be coming on
she said regretfully, and with provoca-
ton, one day. land then there won't
be any more riding"
But l must see you in the winter
Just the same" he cried hastily.
b shook her head.
I've been pretty good" he declared.
II leave 1t to you If l haven't. It's
been pretty hard. too, l can tell you,
You just think it over. Not once have
I said a word about love to you, and
me loving you all the time. That's
going some for a ma that's used to
having his own way. I'm somewhat
of a rusher when 1t comes to travel
ing. l reckon I'd rush God Almighty
If itcame to a race over the ice. And
yet / didn't rush you. I guess this
fact Is an indication of how much ]
do love you. OF course I want you to
A1AoAiy A1O. AAdVO<A Sd4O q WOlu dUOuN
It, though? Nary a chirp, nary a flut
ter. I've been quiet and good, though
it's almost made me sick at times, this
keeping quiet. haven't asked you to
marry me. I'm not asking you now
oh, not but what you satisfy me.
sure know you're the wife for me. But
how about myself? Do you know me
we'll enough to know your own mind?'
He shrugged his shoulders. II don't
know. and I amt going to take
chances on 1t now. You've got tc
know for sure whether you think you
could get along with me or not, and
I'm playing a slow conservative game
I amt a-going to lose for overlooking
my hand"
This was ~love-making of a sort be-
yond Dede's experience. Nor had she
yer heard of anything like it.
so you see." he urged. lust for q
square deal we've got to see some
more of each other this winter. Most
likely your mind amt made up yet
But 1t u.s." she interrupted. II
wouldn't dare permit myself to care for
you. Happiness, for me. would not lie
that way. I like you, Mr.. Harnish
and all that. but 1t can never be more
than that"
TITS because you don't like my way
OF living" he charged, thinking In his
own mind Of the sensational joy-rides
and general profligacy with which the
newspapers had credited him-think
ing this. and wondering whether OF
not. in maiden modesty, she would
disclaim knowledge Of it.
To his surprise, her answer was fiat
and uncompromisinG
mo; l don't"
II know I've been brash on some oil
those rides that got into the papers,
he began his defence, "and that I've