Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1912-07-12
CHAPTER XV.-continued.

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 woman. 1t 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 harpy: woman.
the necessary wife and mother of the
races offspring-all this had been has
expectation and understanding Of
woman. But woman. the comrade and
playfellow and ioyfellow-this was
what Dede had surprised him in. And
the more she became worth while. the
more ardent!y his love burned. un-
consciously shading his voice with
caresses. and with equal unconscious
ness faring 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 confagration.
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 ! must see you in the winter
just the same" he cried hastily.
She shook her head
I've been pretty good" he declared
81 leave it to you If | haven't. It's
been pretty hard. too. can tell you.
You just think 1t over Not once have
| said word about love to you. and
me loving you ali the time That's
going some for a man that's used TO
having his own way. I'm somewhat
of a rusher when it comes to travel
ing | reckon I'd rush God Almighty
If it came to a race over the ice And
yet didn't rush you, guess this
fact is an indication of how much
do love you Of course ! want you to
marry me- Have ! said word about
It. though? Nary chirp. nary fiut
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 NE
we'll enough to know your own mind?'
He shrugged his shoulders. 81 don't
know and | amt going to take
chances on it now. You've got to
know for sure whether you think you
could get along with me or not, and
I'm playing slow conservative game,
| amt a-going to lose for overlooking
my hand"
This was love-making of sort be-
yond Dede's experience. Nor had she
ever heard of anything like it.
so you see." he urged. lust for a
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. | like you. Mr.. Harnish.
and all that, but it can never be more
than that"
Its because you don't like my way
of living" he charged. thinking In his
own mind of the sensational joy-rides
and general profiigacy with which the
newspapers had credited him-think-
ing this. and wondering whether or
not, In maiden modesty. she would
disclaim knowledge of it.
To his surprise. her answer was fiat
and uncompromising.
mo; | don't"
81 know I've been brash on some OF
those rides that got into the papers.
ae began his defence. land that I've