Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-01-23

| proposals OF marriage sandwfched IN.
| Besides-besides"-
Her voice broke for the moment, and
when she went on there was q note Of
appeal in 1t that well nigh convicted
him to himself of being brute.
Don't you see? It spoils everything.
1t makes the whole situation impOs'
vlble-and --and so loved our partner
ship and was proud Of it. Don't you
see? l can't 60 on being your partner
II you make love to me. And was
so happy!". 80.
Tears of disappointment were In her
eyes. and she caught swift sob in her
throat.
II warned you" he said gravely.
such unusual situations between men
and women cannot endure. told you
30 at the beginning"
"Oh. yes; 1t is quite clear to me what
you did. You took good care to warn
me against every other man in the
Solomons except yourself"
II was blow In the face to Sheldon.
he smarted with the truth Of 1t, and
at the same time he smarted with
what he was convinced was the injus.
tice Of It, A gleam of triumph that
nIckered In her eye because Of the
hit she had made decided him.
1T Is not 30 one sided as you seem
to think II is,' be began. II was do
Ing very nicely Oh Bcrandp befor. you
came. did not want you to stfy. l
wasn't in love with you then. ! want
ed you To 90 TO Sydney. to so back to
Hawaii. But you Insisted on staying.
You virtually
He paused for softer word than
the one that had risen to his lips. and
she took it away from him.
Forced myself on yOu-that's what
you meant TO say" she cried the flags
OF battle painting her cheeks. "Go
ahead. Don't mind my feelings"
"All right. won't" he said deci'
ylvely, realizing that the discussion was
In danger of becoming a vituperauve,
schoolboy argument. "You have In
sisted OH being considered as q man.
Consistency would demand. that you
talk like a man and like man listen
to man talk. And listen you shall.
II Is not your falt that this unpleas-
antness has arisen. | do not blame
you for anything-remember that-and
for the same reason you should not
blame me for anything.
"You can't help being yourself. You
can't help being very desirable crea-
ture 80 far as am concerned. You
have made me wanbyou You didn't
intend to: you didn't try to. You were
so made. that Is all. And ] was so
made that was ripe to want you.
But I can't help being myself. i can't
by an effort Of will cease from want
Ing you any more than you by an ef-
fort Of will can make yourself unde-
sirable TO me-"
"Oh. this. desire. this want. want.
WANT she broke In rebelliously. IL
am not quite fool. understand
some things. really think 1t would
be good idea for me to marry Noa
Noah or Adamu Adam or [alaperu
there or any black boy. Then | could
| give him orders and keep him penned
away from me and men like you would
leave NE alone and not. talk marriage
and i want. | want
Sheldon laughed In spite OF himself
and far from any genuine impulse to
laugh
"Yuu are positively soulless." he said
savncely.
,"Rrause I've a soul that doesn't
yearn for IL man for master!" she took
up the gauge Very we'll. then. | am
soulleSs. and what are you going to do
about III
II am going to ask you why you look
like a woman? Why you have the
form of woman. the lips Of woman.
the wonderful hair of q woman? And
1 am going to answer because you are
i a woman. though the woman IN you Is
asleep and that some day the woman
will wake up" .....,-
"Heaven forbid" she cried In such
sudden and genuine dismay as to make
him laugh and to bring smile to her
own lips against herself.
I've got some more to say to you.
Sheldon pursued II did try to protect
you from every other man in the Solo
mons and from yourself Nv well. As
for me. | didn't dream that danger lay
In that quarter, SO failed to protect
you from myself | failed to protect
you at all You went your own vii
full way Just as though didn't exist
wrecking schoOners. RECRUITING Oh Ma
laita and sailing schoOners. one lone.
unprotected girl IN the company of
some of the worst scoundres In the
Soomons. | love you for that too. |
love you for all Of you, just as sou
are"
She made moue Of ,distaste and
rnised hand protestingIy.
Don't" he said. You have NO right
to recOil from the mention Of my love
for yom, Remember. this Is u man
I talk From the point of view OF the
/ Culk. you are kuuu. Auc. Wohou III
you is only incidental. accidental and
irrelevant You We got. to. listen to the
bald statement of fact. strange though
II is. that | love you. You are better
Off and snfer ON Berande. In spite OF
the fact that | love you. than any
where else In the Solomons. hut
want you. as n final item OF man talk.
to remember from time to time that
love you and that 1t will be the dear.
est day Of my life when you consent
to marry me- l want you to think of
Il sometimes And now we won't talk
about 1t any more. AS between men.
there's my hand"
He held out his hand. She hesitated,
then gripped 1t heartily and smiled
through her tears
Il wish she faltered. ~ wish. in
stead of that black Mary. you'd given
me somebody to swear for me-"
And with this enfgmanc utterancs
she turned away.