The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-02-28

IL was stormy cay. "a heavy south
east gale was blowing, and squall aft
er squall OF rain and wind swept over
the city. He could not take his mind
off of her, and a persistent picture
came to him of her sitting by a win
dow and sewing feminine fripperies Of
some sort. When the time came for
his pre-luncheon cocktail to be served
TO him in his rooms, he did not take
IL. Filled with a daring determina-
ton, he glanced at his notebook for
Dede's telephone number, and called
for the switch
AT fist it was the landlady's daugh-
ter who was raised, but in a minute
he heard the voice he had been hun
CRY to hear
I just wanted to tell you that I'm
coming out to So you," he said. |
didn't want to b. ak in on you with
out warning, that was ALL
Has something happened?" came
her voice
"Pll tell you when l get there" he
evaded
She came herself to the door to
receive him and shake hands with
MIN. He hung his macintosh and
hat on the rack in the comfortable
hall and turned to her for direction.
They are busy in there" she said,
indicating the parlor, from which
came the boisterous voices of young
people, and through the open door Of
which he could see several college
youths. $50 you will have to come
into my rooms"
She led the way through the door
opening out of the hall to the right,
and, once inside, he stood awkwardly
rooted to the floor, gazing about him
and at her and all the time trying not
to gaze. In his perturbation he failed
to hear and see her invitation to a
seat
Won't you sit DOWN." she repeated.
Look here" he said, in voice that
shook with passion. there's one thing
| won't do, and that's propose to you
in the Office. That's why I'm here.
Dede Mason, l want you, l just want
you"
So precipitate was he, that she had
barely time to cry out her involun-
tary alarm and to step back, at the
same time catching one of his hands
as he attempted to gather her into ,
his arms.
"Oh. know I'm a sure enough fool"
he said. II guess I'll sit down.
Don't be scairt Miss Mason. I'm not
real dangerous"
I'm not afraid" she answered, with
a smile, slipping down herself into a
chair.
TITS funny" Daylight sighed, almost
with regret; here I am, strong
enough to bend you around and tie
knots In you. Here am, used to hav-
Ing my will with man, beast or any.
thing. And here l am sitting In this
chair, as weak and helpless as a little
lamb. You sure take the starch out
of me-"
CT wish you hada't asked" she
said softly.
Mebbe it's best you should know a
few things before you give me an an
swer," he went on, ignoring the fact
NN>N N-N wei hdu SdUy D6Su
given. Il never went after a woman
before IN my life, all reports to the
contrary Notwithstanding. The stuff
you read about me in the papers and
books about me being a lady-killer. is
all wrong. There's not an iota of
truth in it. l guess I've done more
than my share of d-playing and
whisky-drinking, but women I've let
alone. There was woman that killed
herself, but l didn't know she wanted
me that bad or else I'd have married
her-not for love, but to keep her
from killing herself. She was the
best Of the boiling. but I never gave
her any encouragement. I'm telling
you all this because you've read about
1t, and l want you to get 1t straight
from me-"
Il can't marry you," she said. "T
like you a great deal, but"
He waited moment for her to COM
plete the sentence, failing which, he
went on himself.
Il haven't an exaggerated opinion
of myself, so l know I amt Dragging
when I say I'll make a pretty good