The Detroit times., 1912-05-23

my husband-or perhaps you are not.
Don't you see that, whatever our rela-
ton Is, he has tied your hands for
ever with my nameg''
| bowed my head, for II was true
Ephraim Bond would never have
anything to fear from me; even IL
our marriage were illegal l was ne
more strongly bound. And then q
great Joy, a mighty wave of selfish
ness swept over me. Whether either
OF us would or no, Nancy was bound
to me for all time had only meant
to give all my help and all my love,
but the situation had moved beyond
my control. Because. in the eyes OF
the world, We had lived not quite IL
hours as man and wife, as man and
wife we must live until death came
TO part US.
But | bore her greater love than
that; | loved her too truly to be sell
fish very long. Perhaps, even yet,
there was time TO help her in more
unselfish way. and to frighten Eph'
rain Bond into his senses, ~ punish
him in some measure as he deserved.
| Nancy" said, IF our marriage
was not legal, there Is a way out for
you yet. Scarcely any one has seen
us, scarcely any one knows that We
have been here at all. Suppose that
go back to New York alone and look
into this business. II we were not
really married | will go to your uncle
and tell him all that l now know. "he
witnesses of an illegal marriage wohld
scarcely be at much pains to tell OF
what they saw. You could be happy
then, and free, for | could frighten
your uncle into giving you anything
that you wished"
Nancy said nothing. but kept walk
ing slowly beside me. Far down The
road | saw the dust OF a wagon
| I'VE will have to stop now, II we
are not going TO be seen together.
There is some one coming in sight
now" said.
Are you unhappy" Nancy asked
Are you unhappy with things as they
are?"
You know that | am not" | an
swered. Il nave never been so happy
in my life"
Nor have l." said Nancy, and her
voice was very low but unafraid.
Nancy" | cried, and stopped short
in the middle of the road The wag-
ON was coming over the right Of The
next hill
"Well?" said Nancy quietly, but |
thought that her voice shook little.
What do you mean | asked. You
mean that you are more happy than
you have been in years; that is al!
you mean. Isn't it?"
| mo. don't know why, but l am
more happy than | have ever been.
more happy even than | was when
my father was alive to me-"
/ Butch, Nancy, you could not
care to be near such a man as | am.
Happiness in nearness means love,
and you could never love such a
man."
Gould you love me?" Her voice was
very low indeed now.
I Love you?" love the very things
/ that you have touched. have never
/ done anything else but love you. and
I fight against It, since | saw you in
/ the doorway. Whether you love or
( hate me, | can never do anything
! else but love you. God forgive NE,
, how should | dare to love you, and
| yet how can help but love?"
II think that | love you, too. Hush,
, dear, 1t is not wrong OF you to love
me-"
| Nancy"
| Wait, Mason do not touch me ye;.
| | want to be very sure. You and love
have come so suddenly into my life,
that | can scarcely believe 1t all |
must have a little time, very little
time, Mason dear, but | do not think
that we need be afraid"
| The wagon ratified up, and was past
| in a cloud Of dust. | was drunkcrly
dizzy, and Nancy and I and the bright
country around us seemed hazy M
realities; then, slowly things straight
ened themselves about me. and with
great effort | regained some self
command.
Very WE'LL" | said, you shall tell
me when you have had time to think,
but do not forget what you are az /!
what am"
81 have never forgotten that" she
answered.
Then come" l said; I'VE have
more errands TO do than we snail pos
sibly have time for
SO we walked along the road until
We saw the town Graded in a little
valley at our feet.
| 81 think that heaven must be IN "A
valley said Nancy.
| looked at her, and smiled "Heav.
en- | said, is not in any fixed place
at all, but moves encirclingly about
the wandering feet of Love-" And
that was the last time on all our walk
that love was mentioned between us
| We did great many errands, and
II was very pleasant to purchase the
little homely things that go to make
up living. We bargained and bought,
as il we had been buying pans and
vegetables all our lives, and We re.
turned laden with the lightest and
most necessary OF our spoils.
! Once We were well home again, ana
Nancy was busy exploring closets,
setting things 10 rights, and planning
the disposition of the wagon load OF
things that we expected the next day
from the village, | thought IL a gcod
opportunity>t get the brown derby
nat from Its place behind the bush.
ran down the lane, fearful ,pat
she would miss me, and that ner
thoughts would be again directed &C
whatever unpleasant channel they had
turned at the hats discovery.
! reached the bush almost out of
4 breath hanf1fpn n 49, n !,