Licking Valley courier. [volume] (West Liberty, Ky.) 19??-current, 1912-10-24

You've just got to have me, Dede, for
the more l think about it the more
certain I am that you've got 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 you?"
please, please" she begged. I'VE
can never marry, so don't let us dis
cusS it,"
Daylight decided that action was
more efficient than speech. So he
stepped between her and the wind
and drew her so that she stood close
in the shelter of him. An unusually
stiff squat blew about them and
thrummed overhead In the tree.tops,
and both paused to listen. A shower
Of flying leaves enveloped them, and
hard on the heel of the wind came
driving drops of rain. He looked down
on her and on her hair, wind-blown
about her face; and because of her
closeness to him and of fresher and
more poignant realization Of what she
meant to him, he trembled so that she
was aware of 1t in the hand that held
hers. She suddenly leaned against
him, bowling her head until 1t rested
lightly upon his breast. And so they
stood while another squall, with flying
leaves and scattered drops Of rain,
ratified past. With equal suddenness
she lifted her head and looked at him.
do you know" she said, 81 prayed
last night about you. prayed that
you would fail, that you would lose
notwithstanding"
Daylight stared his amazement at
this cryptic utterance.
"That sure beats me. / always said
got out Of my depth with women,
and you've got me out Of my depth
now. Well, you've just got to ex
plain, that's ALL"
His arms went around her and held
her closely, and this time she did not
resist. Her head was bowed, and he
could not see her face, yet he had o
premonition that she was crying. He
had learned the virtue of silence, and
he waited her will In the matter
Things had come to such pass that
she was bound to tell him something
now. OF that he was confident.
IT would dearly like to marry you,
she faltered, "but / am afraid. am
proud and humble at the same time
that man like you should care for
me. But you have too much money
There's where my abominable com
mon sense steps In. Even II we did
marry, you could never be my man
my lover and my husband. You
would be your moneys man. | know
| am a foolish woman, but l want
my man for myself. And your
money destroys you; 1t makes you
less and less nice. I am not ashamed
to say that love you, because shall
never marry you. And l loved you
much when did not know you at all
when you first came down from Alas
ka and first went into the office. Yor
we're my hero. You we're the Burning
Daylight of the gold-digglngs, the dar
ing traveller and miner. And YOU
looked it. | don't see how any WON
an could have looked at you without
loving you-then. But you don't lool
It now. You, man Of the open, have
been coping yourself up in the cities
with all that that means. You are
becoming something different, some
thing not SO healthy, not so clean, mo-
so nice. Your money and your way
Of life are doing 1t. You know 1t. Yor
haven't the same body now that yor
had then. You are putting on flesh
and 1t is not healthy flesh. You are
kind and genial with me, I know, bu
you are not kind and genial to all the
world as you were then. You have
become harsh and cruel. | do low,
you, but cannot marry you and dc
stroy love. You are growing into ;
thing that must in the end despise
You can't help IT, More than yol
can possibly love me, do you love THU
business game. This business-ant
it's all perfectly useless, so far as yol
are concerned-claims all of you.
sometimes think It would be easier I,
share you equitably with anothe
woman than to share you with thi
business. might have half Of you. a
any rate. But this business woul'
claim, not half Of you, but nineteenth
Of you, or nlnety.nine hundredths. YoI
hold back nothing; you put all you'y
got into whatever you are doing"
Limit is the sky" he grunted grin
affirmation.
"But II you would only play tn
lover.husband that way. And now
won't say another word" she added
I've delivered whole sermon"
Continued next week.