The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1912-05-08
CHAPTER xV.-continued.

thread Of love. It nrSt ne q peeu
content just to ride with Dede n 10
be on comradely terms with her; out
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 win
him, or been merely a giggltng. sim
pering creature Of a woman. 1t 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 eve 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 n
playfellow and joyfelow-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 flaring 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 will soon be coming on"
she said regretfully. and with provoca-
ton. one day. land then there won't
be any more riding" PHI:
"But | must see you In the winter
Just the same" he cried hastily.
She shook her head.
I've been pretty good" he declared.
Il, leave 1t to you II l haven't. It's
been pretty hard. too. l can tell you.
You just think 1t oye Not once have
I said a word about love to you. and
me loving you all the time. That's
going some for a nan that's used to
having his own way. I'm somewhat
of q rushier when 1t comes to travel
ing. | eckon I'd rush God Almighty
II 1t came to a race over the ice. And
yet ! didn't rush you. L guess this
fact is an indication Of how much |
do love you. OF course I want you to
marry me- Have | said a word about
1t, though? Nary a chirp. nary a 1ut-
ter. I've been quiet and good. though
it's almost made me sick at times, this
keeping quiet l 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
well enough to know your own mind?'
He shrugged his shoulders. Il don't
know. aud I adn't going to take
chances On 1t now. You've got to
know for sure whether you think you
could get along with ne or not. and
I'm playing a slow conservative game.
j amt a-going to lose for overlooking
my hand"
This was loye-making of a sort be-
yond Dede's experience. Nor had she
ever heard Of anything like It.
so you see." he urged. lust for a
square deal we've got to see some
more of each other this winter. 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 can never be more
than that"
Its because you don't like my way
Of living" he char sed. thinking In his
own mind of the sensational joy-rides
and general profigacy with which the
newspapers had credited him-think-
ing this, and wondering whether or
not. in maiden modesty. she would
disclalm knowledge Of it.
To his surprise. her answer was fiat
and uncomprumising.
mo; | don't"
81 know I've\ been brash on some OF
those rides that got into the papers"
he began his defence. land that I've
been travelling with a lively crowd"
II don't mean that" she said,
though | know about it. too, and
can't say that I like it. But it is your
life in general, your business. There
are women in the world who could
marry a nan like your and be happy
but | couldn't And the more | cared
for such a man. the more unhappy
should be. You see. my unhappiness
in turn. would tend to make him un
happy. | should make a mistake. ant
he would make an equal mistake
though his would not be SO hard or
him because he would still have his
h~ksofnass"