Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1912-03-15
CHAPTER xv.-continued.

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But through 1t all ran the golden
thread of love. At first he had been
content just to ride with Dede and to
be on comradely terms with her; but
the desire and the need for her in
creased. The more he knew Of her.
the higher was his appraisal. Had
she been reserved and naughty with
him, or been merely a giggling. sim
perlng creature of woman, 1t would
have been different. Instead. she
amazed him with her simplicity and
wsholesomeness. with her great store
OF comradeliness. The latter was the
unexpected. He had never looked
upon woman In that way. Woman.
the toy; woman, the harpy; woman.
the necessary wife and mother of the
races offspring-all this had been his
expectation and understanding OF
woman. But woman, the comrade and
playfellow and joyfellow-this was
what Dede had surprised him In. And
the more she became worth while, the
more ardently his love burned. un-
consciously shading his voice with
caresses, and with equal unconscious
ness flaring up signal fires in his eyes.
Nor was she blind to it. yet, like many
women before her, she thought to play
With the pretty fire and escape the
consequent conflagration."
Winter will soon be coming on"
she said regretfully. and with provoca-
ton, one day. land then there won't
be any more riding"
But l must see you in the winter
lust the same" he cried hastily.
she shook her head.
rive been pretty good" he declared
= leave 1t to you If I haven't. It's
been pretty hard, too. I can tell you.
You just think 1t over. Not once have
I said word about love to you, and
me loving you all the time. That's
going some for man that's used to
having HIS own way. I'm somewhat
OF a rusher when it comes to travel
ing. reckon I'd rush God Almighty
II 1t came to O. race over the ice. And
yet / didn't rush you | guess this
fact is an Indication of how much |
do love you. OF course | want you to
marry me. Have said word about
II, though? Nary chirp, nary nut
tor. I've been quiet and good, though
Ms almost made me sick at times, this
keeping quiet haven't asked you to
marry me. I'm not asking you now.
Oh. not but what you satisfy me. |
sure know you're the wife for me. But
how about myself? Do you know me
well enough to know your own mind"
lie shrugged his shoulders. Il don't
know. and amt going to take
chances on 1t now You've got to
know for sure whether you think you
could get along with me or not, and
I'm playing a slow conservative game.
! amt a,going to lose for overlooking
my hand"
This was love-making of sort be-
yond Deds's experience Nor had she
ever heard of anything like 1t.
80 you see," he urged, "just for
square deal we've got to see some
more of each other this winter. Most
likely your mind amt made up yet"
But 1t is," she interrupted. Il
wouldn't dare permit myself to care for
you Happiness, for, me, would not lie
that way like you. Mr.. Harnish.
and all that. but 1t can never be more
than that"
TITS because you don't like my way
Of living" ne charged, thinking In his
own mind of tho sensational 1oy-rides
and general pro1igacy with which the
newspaper had credited him-think-
ing this. and wondering whether or
not, In maiden modesty, she would
disclaim knowledge OF It.
To his surprise, Der answer was nat
and incorporating.
NO; ] don't"
;fknow I've been brash on some OF
th0s1 fIdes that got into the papers"
ne Akan hss defense. "and that I've