Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1912-08-29
CCopyright A C McClurx & Co.. 800

l think littS gray in the hair Is an
improvement. oh, you mustn't i'm.
agine say this Just TO please you'll
have always thought so. since-weII.
since I grew up. Besides. fieshy men
generally look young. because they
are so good natured. perhaps. How
old are yon. D0cto-2"
TT iFu't tbs gray III ? mind. eiih-
err" he admitted hesitatingly, but Tn
too darned bald-headed. oh. l amt
so old, for was only thirty-five when
the war broke out l was so thin
then l could hardly cast a shadow.
I've changed some SINCE" casting his
eyes admiringly downward. "and got
quite figure. 1 was forty-three last
month"
That isn't old; that's just right"
I've been afraid you looked on me
as being an old fogy!"
1 should say not" Indignantly.
why should you ever think that?"
We'll, there were SO many young
follows hanging about"
"Who?"
oh, Keith, and Hawley, aud that
bunch of officers from the fort; you
never had any time to give me-"
She laughed again, her fingers tight
ening In their clasp on his hand.
why, how foolish; Hawley is older
than you are, and l was only playing
with Keith. Surely you must know
that now. And as to the officers, they
were just fun. You see. in my profess
sion, one has to be awfully nice TO
everybody"
But didn't you really care for Haw-
ley?" he insisted. bluntly probing for
facts.
"He-he interested me-" admitted
the girl, hesitatingly, her eyes dark
ening with sudden anger. He lied
and | believed him would have be-
Heved any one who came with such a
story. Oh, Or. Fairbain." and she
chung to him now eagerly, you can
not realize how hungry l have been
for what he brought me- l wanted so
to know the truth of my birth Oh, l
hated this life" She flung her dis
engaged hand into the air. with a ges-
ture expressive of disgust. "I was
crazy to get away from It. That was
what made the man look good to me
-he-he promised so much You will
believe me, won't you? Oh, you must;
am going to make you. l am a
singer in music halls; was brought
up to that life from a little girl. and
OF course, l know what you Western
men think Of US as & class Hawley
showed IT in his whole manner to-
ward Qnd I
that, deep down In my heart, l hated
him. l know 1t now, now that / real
ly understand his purpose: but soms
way. when l was with him he seemed
to fascinate me. 10 make me do Just
as he willed. But you have never
been that way; you-you have acted
as though I was somebody-somebod
| nice, and not just a music-hall singer
Perhaps It's just your way, and may,
be, deep down you don't think I'm any
better than the other do, but-but
want you to think I am, and am
going to tell you the truth, and you
must believe mel am a good girl"
Great God! of course you are"
he blurted out Don't you suppose
! know? That isn't what has been
bothering me. lassie. Why, I'd a
fought any buck who'd "a sneered at
you. What I wanted to know was
whether or not you really cared for
any OF those buffers. Can you tell me
that. Christie?"
She lifted her eyes to his face. heI
lips parted.
Il can answer anything you ask"
And you do not care for them?''
mo"
He drew his breath sharply, his
round face rosy.
Then you have got to listen to me-
for I'm deadly in earnest. I'm an Old
| rough, bald-headed fool that don't
know much about women never
| thought before I'd ever want to-bul
you can bet on one thing, I'm square
Anybody In this town VIII tell you
I'm square. They'll tell you that
whatever l says goes. I've never run
around much with women; somehow
never exactly liked the kind I've
come up against, and maybe they did
MT feel any particular interest in me
| didn't cut much shine as a ladies'
man, but, | reckon now, it's only be
cause the right one hadn't happened
along. She is here now, though. al
right, and knew it the very first time
! set eyes on her. Oh, you roped and
tied me all right the first throw May
be ! did get you and that hGlf-sister
mixed up a bit, but just the same you
were the one l really wanted. Hopes
all right; she's q mighty fine girl, but
you are the one for me. Christie
Could you-could you care for such a
dufer as ! amp"
Her lips were smiling and so were
her eyes. but It was pleading smile
II don't think It would be sc
very hard" she admitted. not If you
really wanted me to-"
You know what l mean-that love
you-wish you TO be my wife,"
Il supposed that was it-that-that
you wanted me-"
Yes, and-and you will lover"
Her head dropped slowly, so slowly
he did not realize the significance Of
the action. until her lips touched his
hand.