The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1912-06-13
p OBJ BS re RRILL CO.
CHAPTER XV.

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
| 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 NJ once, he wan
dcred 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
20 make the organ respond TO his souls
mood He seated himself and began
to play. His idle lingering gradually
took form in passionate. 1orid gust
of melody that filed the big house.
Then the stormy mood died away, and
the organ sang weird minor refrain.
Eleanor. entering unobservcd by the
player, stood leaning against chair
near him, regarding him with an odd
look i'm which admiration and pity, per
haps a shade of contempt, mingled.
At last. without turning or ceasing
his playing. he spoke. IL 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 one thing But
you won't let me speak of that To-day
I'm possessed of n thousand devils.
Sing"
He opened 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 had yet come into
her life to fulfil the ultimate womans
mission, a longing which Of late had
been growing more and more poignant
within her AS she sang her heart
flooded with iindliness toward the
handsome, romantic young man before
her.
81 wish" she thought once when at
the end of verse the organ took up
the refrain-"I wish / were your moth
er. wonder can this be the begin
ming Of love-and for your
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 nowT
"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
bg AAN way hh'h dAp 9Oh Sums "
let me propose"
'Alust | ever let you"
at is inevitable that l shall propose
sooner or later. whether you consent
or not, But | prefer to do It under
the most propitious circumstances"
'They say you can judge of love by
the sacrifices 1t is willing to make.
What would you give up for meT"
What would | give up? Every
thing"
Everything is big word, my
friend" she answered skeptically.
Lets come down to facts, as Henry
would say. Friendsr
He covered his face with his hands.
She pressed him almost fiercely.
Friends? Even your friend Me-
Adoop
"For Gods sake, don'tw
"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.
"No; everything doesn't mean every
thing. When he asked me to give
you up | refused. II you should de-
mand that ! give him up / must make
the same answer; otherwise | must
be utterly contemplate. | forced my
friendship on him against his wilt
If 1t means anything to him now
can't take It 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
ly selfish woman. And IL should like
to care for you, but dare not. I'm
too much like Mr.. McAdoo. can new
or let myself love any man with whom