The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1912-05-22

with all that that means. You are
becoming something different, some
thing not so healthy. not so clean, not
so nice. Your money and your way
of life are doing it. You know it. You
haven't the same body now that you
had then. You are putting on flesh,
and 1t is not healthy flesh. You are
kind and genial with me. | know, but
you are not kind and genial to all the
world as you were then. You have
become harsh and cruel. | do love
you, but | cannot marry you and de-
stroy love. You are growing into a
thing that | must in the end despise.
You can't help It More than you
can possibly love me. do you love this
business game. This business-and
it's all perfectly useless. so far as you
are concerned-claims all of you. |
sometimes think it would be easier to
share you equitably with another
woman than to share you with this
business. | might have half OF you, at
any rate. But this business would
claim, not half of you, but nine-tenths
of you. or ~ninety-nine hundredths. You
hold back nothing; you put all you've
got into whatever you are doing
Limit is the sky" he grunted grim
affirmation.
But If you would only play the
lo~ver-husband that way. And now |
won't say another word" she added.
I've delivered a whole sermon"
She rested now, frankly and fairly.
in the shelter of his arms. and both
were oblivious to the gale that rushed
past them in quicker and stronger
blasts. The big downpour Of rain had
not yet come, but the mist-like squalls
were more frequent. Daylight a
openly perplexed, and he was still per-
picked when he began to speak.
you've left me no argument. |
know I'm not the same man that came
from Alaska. ! couldn't hit the trail
with the dogs as | did in them days.
I'm soft in my muscles. and my minds
gone hard. | used to respect men. l
despise them now. You see, | spent all
my life in the open, and | reckon I'm
| an open-air man. Why, I've got the
prettiest little ranch you ever laid
eyes on up in Glen Ellen. That's
where | got stuck for the brick-yard.
You recollect handling the c%orrespon-
dence. | only laid eyes on the ranch
that one time, and ] so fell in love
with it that I bought 1t there and
then. just rode around the hills.
and was happy as a kid out Of school,.
! I'd be a better man living In the coun-
try. The city doesn't make me better.
| You're plumb right there. know 1t.
But suppose your prayer should be
answered and Id 60 clean broke and
have to work for days wages? Sup
pose | had nothing left but that little
ranch, and was satisfied to grow a few
chickens and scratch a living some
how-would you marry me then,
Dede?"
why, we'd be together all he
time!" she cried.
Then was the moment. among the
trees. ere they began the descent OF
the hill, that Daylight might have
drawn her closely to him and kissed
her once. But he was too perpiexed
with the new thoughts she had put
into his head o take advantage OF the
situation. He merely caught her by
the arm and helped her over the
rougher footing. At the edge of the
, grove he suggested that it might be
better for them to part there, but she
insisted that he accompany her as lar
as the house.
do you know" he said, taking 1t
by and large, it's the happiest day OF
my life. Dede, Dede. we've just got to
get married. It's the only way. and
trust TO luck for it's coming out all
right"
But the tears were threatening TO
rise in her eyes again. as she shook
her head ano turned and went up the
steps.
CTo BE C~oNT1NUED.)