The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1912-04-04

49, DNfAf- ~ oNSN $500
of myself. SO | know | amt Dragging
when | say I'll make a pretty good
husband. You could follow your own
sweet will. and nothing would be too
good for you. I'd give you everything
your heart desired"
Except yourself" she interrupted
suddenly. almost sharply. Don't you
see?" she hurried on. II could have
far easier married the Elan Harnish
fresh from Klondike when | first laid
eyes on him long ago. than marry you
sitting before me now"
He shook his head slowly.
That's one toe many for me. The
more you know and like a man the
less you want to marry him. Famili-
arity breeds contempt guess that's
what you mean"
mo, nor she cried, but before she
could continue. a knock came on the
door.
His eyes, quick with observation,
ike an Indians, darted about the
room while she was out. The impress
sion of warmth and comfort and beau
ty predominated, though he was IN
able TO analyze It; while the simplici-
ty delighted him-expensive simplici-
ty, he decided, and most OF it left.
overs from the time her father went
broke and died.
She re-entered the room, and as she
crossed 1t TO her chair, he admired
the way she walked, while the bronze
slippers were m%addening.
I'D like to ask you several ques-
%tions." he began Immediately. Are
you thinking of marrying somebody
elset"
There isn't anybody else. | don't
know anybody | like well enough to
marry. For that matter, | don't think
| am q marrying Office work
seems TO spoil me for that"
1T strikes me that you're the most
marryingest woman hat ever made a
man SIT up and take notice. And now
another question. You see. I've just
got to locate the lay OF the land. Is
there anybody you like as much as
you like me?"
But Dede had herself well In hand.
That's unfair" she said. And II
you stop and consider, you will find
that you are doing the very thing you
disclaimed namely, nagging. | refuse
to answer any more Of your questions.
Let us talk about other things. How
Is Bobf"
Half an hour later, whirling along
through the rain on Telegraph Ave
nue toward Oakland, Daylight smoked
one OF his brown-paper cigarettes and
reviewed what had taken place. II was
not at sill bad. was his summing up,
though there was much about It that
was battling. There was that liking
him tho more she knew him and at
the same time wanting to marry him
less. That was a puZzler.
Once again. on a rainy Sunday,
weeks sfterward. Daylight proposed
to Dede. AS on the first time. he rc-
strained himself until his hunger for
her overwhelmed him and swept him
away In his red automobile to Berke-
ley. He left the machine several
blocks away and proceeded to the
house on foot. But Dede was out, the
landlady's daughter told him. and
added. on second thought, that she
was walking in the hills. Further
! more. the young lady directed him
where Dede's walk was most likely to
extend. Daylight obeyed the girls In
structions, and soon the street he FOL.
lowed pessed the last house and Itself
ceased where began the first steep
slopes VI the open hills. The air was
damp with the ~on-coning Of rain. for
the storm had not yet burst. though
the rising wind proclaimed its i'm.
minence. As far as he could see,
there was no sign of Dede on the
smooth. grassy hills. To the right,
dipping down into a"hollow and rising
again. was a large. full-grown eucalyp-
tus grove. Here all was noise and
movement, the lofty. slender-trunked
trees swaying back and forth in the
wind and clashing their branches to-
gether. In the squalls. above all the
minor noises OF creaking and groan.
ing. arose a deep drumming note rs
of . mighty harp. Knowing Dede as
be did. Daylight was confident that he
would find her somewhere In this
grove where the storm effects we're so
pronounced. And find her he did,
across the hollow and on the exposed
crest of the opposing slope where the
gale smote Its fiercest blows.
ITS the same old thing" he said.
"a war; you and I've come for you.
You've just got to have me. Dede. for
the more Z thinf about 1t the more
certain ! am that you've got a sneak
ing liking for me that's something
more than Just ordinary liking. And
you don't dast say that 1t isn't: now
dast your"
please. please" she begged. I'VE
can never marry. so don't let US dis
cuss It."
Daylight decided that action was
more eficient than speech. 30 he
stepped between her and the wind
and drew her 90 that abe stood close
In the shelter OF him. An unusually
afi0 aouall blev ahout than Hph