The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1912-03-21
CHAPTER xv.--continued.

But through II 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 be 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 comradeIiness. 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 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. un-
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 confiagration."
Winter will soon be coming on.
she said regretfully. and with provoca.
ton. one day. land then there won't
be any more riding"
"But | must see you In the winter
3ust the same" he cried hastily.
She shook her head.
I've been pretty good" he declared
Il leave II 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 II 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. | guess this
fact Is an indication OF how much !
do love you. or cours ! want you to
marry me. Have | said a word about
Il. though? Nary a ehirp. nary a 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. o but what you satisfy me.
sure know you're the wife for me But
how about myself? Do you know me
well enough to know your own mind? p
He shrugged his shoulders. II 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 a sort be-
yond Dede's experience. Nor had she
ever heard of anything like II.
so You see." he urged. lust for q
square deal we've got to see some
more of each other this wipter. Most
likely your mind amt made up yet"
But 1t is." she interrupted. Il
wouldn't dare permit myself to care for
you. Happiness. for me. would not lie
that way. like you. Mr.. Harnish.
and all that. but It car v he more
than that"
SITS because you don't like my way
N living" he charged. thinking In his
pwA mind of the sensational j~oy-rides
and general profigacy with which the
newspapers had credited him-think-
ang this. and wondering whether or
mex. IN maiden modesty. she would
hisclaim knowledge of 1t.
TO his surprise. her answer was dat
md uncompromising.
mo; don't"
Il knoW rye BEEN rrash on some OF
IAoss rides that got into the papers"
" began his defence. and that I've