The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-02-24
CHAPTER XIV.

Life at the office went on much the
way 1t had always gone.
In spite of their high resolve, there
was a very measurable degree of the
|. furtive In their meetings. In essence,
these meetings were stolen. They did
not ride out brazenly together in the
face OF the world. On the contrary,
they met always unobserved, she rid
ing across the many-gated backroad
from Berkeley to meet him halfway.
Nor did they ride on any save unfre-
quented roads. preferring to cross the
second range of hills and travel among
church-going farmer folk who would
scarcely have recognized even Day.
light from his newspaper photographs.
Ea found Dede a good horsewoman-
good not merely IN riding, but In en-
durance. There We're days when they
covered sixty, seventy, and even
eighty miles; nor did Dede ever claim
any day too long, nor-another strong
recommendation 10 Daylight-did the
hardest day ever see the slightest
chafe of the chestnut sorrel's back.
a sure enough hummer" was Day
lights stereotyped but ever enthusias-
sic verdict to himself.
His lifelong fear Of woman had orig.
mated out OF Notwithstanding and
mad also prevented him from reaching
any understanding Dede on horse
back. Dede gathering poppies on a
summer hillside. Dede taking down
dictation in her swift shorthand
strokes--all this was comprehensive
to him. But he did not know the
Dede who so quickly changed from
mood to mood, the Dede who refused
steadfastly to ride with him and then
suddenly consented. the Dede In
whose eyes the golden glow forever
waxed and waned and whispered
hints and messages that were not for
his ears. In all such things he saw
the glimmering profundities Of sex,
acknowledged their lure, and accept.
ed them as incomprehensible.
But through 1t 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, 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 harpy; woman,
the necessary wife and mother of the
races Cffspring-all this had been his
expectation and understanding of
woman. But woman, the comrade and
playfellow and joyfellow-this 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 ilaring up signal fires in his eyes.
Nor was she blind to 1t, 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-
tion, one day, "and then there won't
be any more riding"
But | must see you In the winter
just the same" he cried hastily.
Che 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, can tell you.
You just think it over. Not once have
said a word about love to you, and
me loving you all the time. That's
going some for man that's used to
having his own way. I'm somewhat
OF rusher when it comes to travel
Ing. | reckon I'd rush God Almighty
II 1t came to a race over the ice And
yet / didn't rush you. l guess this
fact Is an indication Of how much l
do love you. OF course l want you to
marry me, Have said word about
It, though? Nary chirp, nary a fiut-
ter. I've been c. and good, though
It's almost made ok at times, this
keeping quiet. - vent 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. 81 don't
know. and | amt going to take
chances on II now. You've got to
know for sure whether you think you
could get along with me or not, and
I'm playing a 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 Gf anything like It.
go you see," he urged, Just for
square deal we've got to see some