The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1912-01-04

~ str1x<s 10 tnst yu1-rs tAe ns0ss
Earryf1xest woxnar that sTs~ made .
nan sss % and take notice. And Cow
angsnsr question You see. T~e t1st
got to locate the lay q the Land Ii
there anytody you like - much -
you Ike me-"
But DeGe had herself vel II hand
That's unfasr." she sad And IL
you stop and consider. you win ind
tna. you are doing the sery thing you
diselaimed-nAmeiy. naggtnE- | refuse
to answer any more CT your questions.
Let Us talk about other things. How
IL Eobg"
Half an hour later. whirIing alocg
through the rain on Telegraph Ave
que toward Oakland. Daylight smoked
one Of his brown-paper cigarettes and
reviewed what had taken place. II was
not a; all bad. was his summing up.
though there vas much about II that
was banning There was that liking
him the more she knew him and at
the same time wanting 10 marry him
less. That was puzzler.
Once again. on q rainy Sunday.
weeks afterward. Daylight proposed
TO Dede As on the first time, he re-
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 passed the last house and itself
ceased where began the first steep
slopes Of the open hills. The air was
damp with the on-coming of rain, for
the storm had not yet burst though
the rising wind proclaimed its Inn
minence AS far as he could see,
there was no sign OF Dede on the
smooth, grassy hills. To the right,
dipping down into 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 as
of mighty harp. Knowing Dede as
he did, Daylight was confident that he
would find her 81 mewhere In this
grove where the storm effects were 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.
tits the same old thing" he said.
Il want you and I've come for you.
You've just got to have me, Dede, for
the more I think about 1t 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 it isn't; now
dast your"
please, please" she begged. 1--WE
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 squall 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 hire, he trembled so that she
was aware Of it 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 squat, 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, II prayed
last night about you. prayed that
you would fail, that you would lose
everything
Daylight stared his amazement al
this cryptic utterance.
THAT sure beats me. I always sale
I got out of my depth with women
and you've got me out Of my deptf
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 no
resist Her head was bowed, and h'
could not see her face, yet he had {
premonitfon that she was crying. Ht
had learned the virtue Of silence. and
he waited her will in the matter
Things had come to such a pass tha
she was bound to tell him sometime
now. OF that he was confident.
IT would dearly like to marry you.
she faltered, ''but I am afraid. l an
proud and humble at the same tim,
Rzs