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


His eyes. quick with observation
like an Indians. darted about the
room while she was cut. The impress
sion OF warmth and comfort and beau
ty predominated. though he was un-
able TO analyze Il; while the simplici-
ty delighted bim-expensiye slmplici-
sy, he decided. and most of 1t left
overs from the time her father went
broke and died.
She re-entcred the room. and as she
crossed II to her chair, ne admired
the way she walled, While the bronze
slippers we're madiening
I'D like to ask you several ques-
TONS" he began Immediately. "Are
you thinking Of marrying somebody
.else?"
There isn't anybody else. don't
know anybody like we'll enough to
marry. For that matter. don't think
am a marrying woman. Office work
seems to sroil me for that"
1T strikes me that you're the most
marryingest woman that ever made a
man sit Up and take notice. And now
another question. You see. I've just
got 10 locate the lay o; the hand. Is
there anybody you like rs much as
you like me?"
But Dede had herself well In hand.
That's unfair" she said. "And II
you stop and consider. you VIII find
that you are doing the very thin~ you
disclaimed-namely. nagging \ refuse
to answer any more Of your questions.
Let us talk about other things. How
IN 3ob?"
Half an hour later. whirling along
through the rain on Telegraph Ave
nue. toward Oakland. Daylight smoked
one OF his brown-paper cigarettes and
reviewed what had taken place. II was
not at all bad. was his summing up.
though there was much about II that
was baffitng. There was that liking
him the more she knew him and at
the same time waiting to marry him
less. That was puzzler.
Once again. on q rainy Sunday,
weeks afterward. Daylight proposed
TO Dede. As on the hrrt time, ne re-.
strained himself until his hunger for
her overwhelmed him and swert him
away In his red automobile to Berke.
iey. He left the machine several
blocks away and proceeded to. the
house on foot. But Dede was out, the
landlady's daughter told him, and
added. on second thought. that she
vas walking In the hills. Further.
more. the young lady Greeted him
where Dede's walk VAS most likely to
extend. Daylight OBJ ysd the girls in
structions. and soon the street be fol-
lowed passed the last house and itself
oeassd where began the frst steep
slopes OF the open hills. The air was
damp with the cn-c,ming of rain, for
ths storm had not yet burst. though
the rising wind proclaimed its i'm.
minence As far as he could see,
there was no Sign OF Dede on the
smooth. grassy bills. To the right,
dipping down into . hollow and rising
again. wss large. till-grovn eucalyp-
tus grove. Here all was noise and
movement, the lofty. slender-trunked
trees svsying back and forth In the
viEd and clashing their branches to-
ssther. In the squalls. above all the
minor noises OF creaking and groan-
Ing. arose q deep drumming note as
OF mighty harp. knowing Dede as
he did. Daylight was confident that be
would nnd her somewhere In this
grove whore the storm effects were 30
pronounced. And lind her he did.
across the hollow and on the exposed
crest Of the opposing slope where the
sale smote It's fiercest blows.
ITS the same old thing" he said.
Il want you and I've come for you.
You've Just got to have me. Dede, for
the more | think about II the more
certain ] am that you've got sneak
ing liking for me hats something
more than Just ordinary liking. And
you don't dast say that II isn't: now
dsst your
Please. please" she begged. 1--WE
can never marry. so don't let us dis
cuss H."
Daylight decided that action was
more efficient than speech. So he
stepped between her and the wind
and drew her 80 that she stood Close
In the shelter OF him. An unusually
stin squali blew about them and
thrummed overhead in the tree-tops.
and both paused 20 listen. A shower
OF flying leaves enveloped them, and
hard on the heel OF the wind came
driving drops OF rain. He looked down
on her and on her hair, wind.blown
about her face: and because of her
closeness 90 him and Of fresher and
more poignant realization OF what she
meant To him. he trembled 30 that she
was aware OF II In the hand that held
hers. She suddenly leaned against
him. bowling her mead until II rested
lightly upon his breast. And 30 they
stood while another squall, with flying
leaves and scattered drops OF rain.
ratified past. With equal audiences