The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1912-01-04

lEMllA liONS'
HAUL REMINGTON impatiently
- flung aside the book he had
been trying to read. 1t was
Sunday. and TO Paul the first
day Of the week was always distinctly
oppressive.
Its no use. This day has got on
my nerves. The time when myself
and my dreams were all the company
i needed is gone. | haven't seen her
for two days. and | can't wait another
day, another hour. another minute"
A half hour later Paul was ushered
into the Sanger drawing room. Flea
nor not appearing at once. he wan
dered through an open door into the
music room. at one end OF which had
been installed a small pipe organ.
And Paul OF the many talents. with
out being a great musician, knew how
to make the organ respond to his souls
mood. He seated himself and began
to play. His idle lingering gradually
toOk form in a passionate, forid gust
Of melody that filed the big house.
Then the stormy mood died away, and
the organ san a weird minor refrain.
Eleanor, entering unobserved by the
player. stood leaning against a chair
near him, regarding him with IN odd
look in which admiration and pity. per
haps a shade of contempt, mingled.
At last, without turning or ceasing
his playing, he spoke. II can't see
you. but ! know you are there"
Lawyer. politician, orator, musi-
cian-the gods have been good to you,'
she murmured quiZzically.
Yes" he answered, with a trace of
bitterness. Jack Of all trades and mas
ter Of none, but first and above all
Mrs. Gilbert's most sincere devotec.
I'm constant in at least n thing But
you won't let me speak Of that Today
I'm possessed Of a thousand devils.
Sing"
He opened a sheet Of music before
him and struck into the accompani-
ment. and Eleanor. standing where she
was, sang.
Eleanor Gilbert could sing. and that
afternoon she sang as she had never
sung before, for in her singing that
day she found expression for what she
had never quite dared to put into
words-the longing for something high
er and better than mad yet come into
her life to fulfill the ultimate woman's
mission, a longing which Of late had
been growing more and more poignant
within her. AS she sang her heart
flooded with kindness toward the
handsome, romantic young man before
her.
Il wish" she thought once when at
the end Of a verse the ryan took up
the refrain-"I wish | were your moth
er. | wonder can this be the begin
ming of love-and for you?"
Song followed song until at length
Paul turned from the organ and faced
her.
Thank you" he said simply.
She rested her elbows on the back
Of the chair. folding her hands and
dropping her chin on them.
How are those devils nowY'
Gone, every one Of them. You're
the most eminently satisfactory per
son in the world. | came here rest
less. morbid, filed with dismal fore
bodings. You sing-the demons fee"
He folded his arms ~contentedly
by the way. when are you going to
let me %propose?"
Must | ever let your"
1T is inevitable that | shall propose
sooner or later, whether you consent
or not. But | prefer to do 1t under
the most propitious circumstances"
They say you a judge Of love by
the sacrifices it is willing to make
What would you give up for meT"
What would l give up? Every
thing"
Everything Is a big word, my
friend" she answered skeptically
Let's come down to facts, as Henry
would say. FriendsY
He covered his face with his hands.
She pressed him almost fiercely.
"Friendsf Even your friend Me
AdooT"
For Gods sake, DON'T"
What" she said mockingly. Then
everything doesn't mean everythingT
Slowly his hands fell to his side.
His face was very white. his eyes un-
utterably weary.
mo: everything doesn't mean every
thing. When he asked me to give
you up l refused. II you should de-
mand that l give him up l must make
the same answer; otherwise | must
be utterly contemplate. / forced my
friendship on him against his will.
II 1t means anything to him now |
can't take 1t away from him."
my dear friend" she said aloud
gently. I'm not tempting you. because
! have nothing to offer you in exchange
for the sacrifice. I'm only showing you
what 1t means to care for an intense
~ selfish q And IL should like
to care for you. but I dare not, I'm
too much like Mr.. McAdoo. | can new
er let myself love any man with whom
l am not FIRST. And he hates me, II
dates from a dav eleven yea RI ago