The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1912-06-22
CHAPTER ll.-(continued).

CHAP En- it-ASoiia''t1S~is
"And by what right did you take
that one?' haughtily demanded the
outraged young woman, looking at
him beneath level brows while the
color slowly receded from her lace.
She had never been kissed by man
other than a blood relation IN her
suspicious reader,
that she was from Philadelphia
she resented this sudden and unau-
thorized caress with every atom ana
instinct Of her still somewhat conven-
Monal being.
"But aren't you half way engaged to
me?" he pleaded in justification, see
ing the unwonted seriousness with
which she had received his impudent
advance. 'Didnt you agree to give
me chance?"
OF did say that liked you very
much" she admitted, mo man better
and that / thought that you might
well, then" he began.
But she would not be interrupted
sT did not mean that you should en-
10Y all the privileges of conquest pc
fore you had won me. ! Will thank
you not to do that again, sir"
1T seems to have had very DIFF
rerent effect upon you than 1t does
upon me-" replied the man coolly. l
loved you before, but now, since l
have kissed you. worship you."
at hasn't affected me that way re
torted the girl promptly, her face still
frowning and indignant. Not at ALL
and"
Forgive me. Enid" pleaded the
other. Il just couldn't help 1t. You
were SO beautiful had to. / took the
chance. You are not accustomed TO
our ways"
rs this your habit In your love nj,
fairs" asked the girl swiftly and not
without spice of feminine malice.
II never had any love affair be
fore, . he replied with q ready mage
line mendacity, at least none worth
mentioning. But you see this Is the
west; we have gained what we have
by demanding every inch that nature
offers, and then claiming the all
That's the way we play the game out
here and that's the way we win"
But | have not yet learned to play
the game as you call 1t, by any such
rules" returned the young woman de
terminedly, land 1t Is not the way tt
win me if am the stake"
What To the way?" asked the mar
,anxiously. "Show me and I'll take Il
no matter what It's difficulty"
"Ah, for me to point out the way
would be to play traitor to myself,
she answered, relenting and relaxing
a little before his devoted wooing
"You must find it without assistance
can only tell you one thing"
And what Is that?"
''You do not advance toward thu
goal by such actions as those Of
moment since"
Look here" said the other sudden
ly. Il am not ashamed of what l die
and I'm not going to pretend that
am, either"
You ought to be-" severely.
We'll, maybe SO, but I'm not;
couldn't help it any more than coul
help loving you the minute l saw yot
Put yourself in my place"
But l am not In your place, and
can't put myself there. do not wis
to. II it be true, as You say. that 20
have grown to-care SO much for N
and 80 quickly"
III it be true?" came the sharp Il
terruption as the man bent towar
her, fairly devouring her with his Dol,
ardent gaze.
well, since 1t is true," she admi
ed under the compulsion of his pr
test. THAT fact Is the only possib
excuse for your action"
"You find some justification for m
then?"
mo, only possibility, but wheth,
1t be true or not, do not feel tn;
way-yet."
There was a saving grace in TIL
last word, which gave him a lit
heart. He would have spoken, b
she suffered no interruption, saying
81 have been wooed before. but
True, unless the human race b;
become suddenly blind" he said soft
under his breath.
But never In such ungentle ways
II suppose you have never run ,
against real red-blooded man Ill
me before"
IF red-blooded be evidenced main
by lacking Of self control, perhaps
have not. Yet there are men that
have met that would not need to APT
ogtze for their qualities even to yo
Mr.. James Armstrong"
Don't say that. Evidently | ma
ont poor progress in my wooin
Never have met with woman qui
like yoI''--and In that indeed /
some OF her charm, and she mig
have replied In exactly the same Ia
guage and with exactly the sar
meaning to him--I am no longer
Ioy. must be fifteen years old
than you are, for am thirty-hve.