Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1912-03-01
CHAPTER xv.-continued.

But through it all ran the golden
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 a woman. ii 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 harry; woman.
the necessary wife and mother of the
races offspring-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, UNI
consciously shading his voice with
caresses, and with equal unconscious
ness fiaring 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 win soon be coming on"
she said regretfully. and with provoca.
ton. one day. and 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 1t to you II | haven't IT'S
been pretty hard. too. can tell you
You just think 1t over Not once have
said a word about love to you and
me loving you all 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
II IL came to 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 a word about
At, though? Nary a 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 me
we'll enough 10 know your own mind ?"
He shrugged his shoulders. 81 don't
know. and l 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 a slow conservative game
amt a-going to lose for overlooking
my hand"
This was lovemaking Of a sort be
yond Dede's experience. Nor had she
ever heard of anything like 1t.
So you see," he urged. lust for I
square deal we've got to see som,
more of each other this winter. Mos
likely your mind amt made up yet
But 1t Is" she interrupted "
wouldn't dare permit myself to care 70
you Happiness. for me. would not Ii
that way like you. Mr. Harnist
and all that. but it can never be NOR
than that"
Its because you don't like my wa
of living" he charged. thinking in hi
own mind G. the sensational ioy-ride
and general profligacy with which tn
newspapers had credited him. -thinl
ing this. and wondering whether {
not. in maiden modesty. ale woul
disclaim knowledge of II.
To his surprise. her ausWe: was III
and uncompromisiug
mo: | dcn't'
u know I've been brash on some
those rides that got into the papers
he began his defence and that II