Middletown transcript., 1912-03-09
"r have been wooed before, but,

I II have been Wooed before, but"
''True, unless the human race has
become suddenly blind" he said softly
under his breath.
''But never in such ungentle ways
Il suppose you have never run up
against real red-blooded man like
me before"
'If red-blooded be evidenced mainly
by lacking of self control, perhaps
have not. Yet there are men that l
have met that would not need to apol-
,ogize for their qualities even to you,
Mr. James Armstrong"
Don't say that. Evidently l make
but poor progress in my wooing.
Never have l met with a woman quite
like yuu"-and in that indeed lay
some Of her charm, and she might
have replied in exactly the same IAN
guage and with exactly the same
meaning to hint am no longer a
boy. l must be fifteen years older
than you are, for am thirty-five."
The difference between their years
was not quite so great as he declared,
but womanlike the girl let the state
ment pass unchallenged.
"And 1 wouldn't insult your intel
ligehce by saying you are the only
woman that have ever made love to-
but there is a vast difference between
making love to a woman and loving
one. have Just found that out for the
first time. l marvel at the past, and
am ashamed of 1t, but l thank God
that l have been saved for this op-
portunity. 1 want to win you, and 1
am going to do it, too. In many
things don't match up with the peo-
pie with whom you train. was born
out here and I've made myself. There
are things that have happened In the
making that am not especially proud
Of, and am not at all satisfied with
the results, especially since l have
met you. The better know you the
less pleased l am with Jim Arm
strong, but there are possibilities in
me, 1 rather believe, and with you for
inspiration, Godi"-the man flung out
his hand with a fine gesture OF de-
termination. They say that the east
and west don't naturally mingle, but
It's a lie; you and 1 can beat the
world"
The woman thrilled to his gallant
wootng. ANY woman would have done
so; some Of them would have lost
their heads, but Enid Maitland was
an exceedingly cool young person, for
she vas not quite swept on her feet,
and did not quite lose her balance.
II like to hear you say things like
that" she answered. Nobody quite
like you has ever made love to me,
and certainly not in your way, and
that's the reason have given you q
half way promise to think about 1t.
was sorry that you could not be
with US on this adventure, but now
am rather glad, especially II the even
temper of my way is to be interrupted
by anything like the outburst of few
minutes since"
II am glad, too," admitted the man.
For declare couldn't help it. I'll
have to be with you either you have |
got to be mine or else you would have
to decide that It could never be, and
then I'd go of and fight 1t out"
Leave me to myself" said the girl
earnestly ''for little while; it's best |
so; would not take the finest, noblest |
man on earth"
"And 1 am not that"
ttTTO1ooo I IOua1 hin, L. aa,,,A
thing very attractive about your per
sonality; don't know in my heart |
whether it is that, or"
Good" said the man, as she hesi.
tated. That's enough" He gathered
up the reins and whirled his horse
suddenly In the road. "T am going |
back. I'll wait for. your return to
Denver, and then"
That's best" answered the girl.
She stretched out her hand to him,
leaning backward. II he had been a |
different kind Of a man he would have |
kissed 1t; as 1t was he took It in his |
own hand and almost crushed it with |
a fierce grip.
Wen shake on that, little girl" he |
said, and then without a backward |
glance he put spurs to his horse and |
galloped furiOusly down the road.
No, she decided then and there, she
did not love him, not yet. Whether
she ever would she could not tell. And |
yet she was half bound to him. The
recollection Of his kiss was not al. |
together a pleasant memory; he had /
not done himself any good by that
bold assault upon her modesty, that |
reckless attempt to rife the treasure |
Of her lips. No man had ever really
touched her heart, although many had /
engaged her interest. Her experience
therefore was not defnitive or con-
elusive. If she had truly loved James
Armstrong. in spite Of all that she
might have said, she would have
thrilled to the remembrance. Of that
wild caress. The chances, therefore.
were somewhat heavily against him
that morning as he rode down the
trail alone.
His experiences in love affairs were
much greater than hers. She was by
<I7'a[<-~ Il