Gloucester County Democrat., 1912-01-25

! Mrs Gilbert's most sincere devotee.
I'm constant in at least one thing But
you won't let me speak of that Today
I'm possessed of a thousand devils.
Sing"
He opened sheet of music before
him and struck into the accompani-
ment. and Eleanor. standing where she
was. sang.
| Eleanor Gilbert could sing. and that
| afternoon she sang as she had never
sung before. for in her singing that
day she found expression for what she
had never quite dared to put into
words-the longing for something high
! er and better than had yet come into
her life to fulfill the ultimate woman's s
mission. longing which of late had
| been growing more and more poignant
flooded with kindliness toward the
handsome, romantic young man before
her.
Il WISH" she thought once when at
the end of verse the organ took up
the refrain-"I wish were your moth
er. wonder can this be the begin
ming of love-and for your"
Song followed song until at length
Paul turned from the organ and faced
her.
THANK you," he said simply.
She rested her elbows on the back
Of the chair. folding her hands and
dropping her chin on them.
"How are those devils now?"
"Gone. every one of them. You're
the most eminently satisfactory per-
son in the world. | came here rest
less. morbid. filed with dismal fore
bodings. You sing-the demons f1ee."
He folded his arms contentedly
by the way. when are you going to
let me proposeY'
Must | ever let your
st is inevitable that shall propose
sooner or later. whether you consent
or not. But | prefer to do it under
the most propitious circumstances"
''They say you can judge of love by
the sacrifices it is willing to make
What would you give up for me?"
What would give up? Every
thing"
Everything is big word. my
friend" she answered skeptically
Lets come down to facts. as Henry
would say. Friends?"
He covered his face with his hands
She pressed him almost fiercely
Friends? Even your friend Nc.
Adoo?"
"For Gods sake, don't!'
"Whatr she said mockingly. Then
everything doesn't mean everythingr
Slowly his hands fell to his side.
His face was very white. his eyes un-
utterably weary
mo; everything doesn't mean every
thing When be asked me to give
you up refused. If you should de
mand that give him up must make
the same answer: otherwise / must
be utterly contemplate | forced my
friendship on him against his will
If it means anything to him now /
can't take it away from him.
MY dear friend she said aloud
gently. I'm not tempting you, because
| have nothing to offer you in exchange
for the sacrifice. I'm only showing you
what it means to care for an intense
ly selfish woman. And IL should like
to care for you, but | dare not I'm
too much like Mr.. McAdoo. can nev
er let myself love any man with whom
l am not first. And he hates me. 1t
dates from day eleven years ago
when he saved my life" Paul looked
up. astounded. "He has hated the
memory of me ever since. think. If
| married you. sooner or later we
should come to the place where you
must hurt him or me. That would
mean misery for us both can never
think seriously of caring for you until
he withdraws his objections to me-or
until you are willing to give him up
for me-"
He made no answer, She went close
to him and laid a hand gently on his
arm.
Don't you see?"
He caught her hand closely in both
of his. do you think" he demanded
fercely-"do you think you could ever
come to care for me?"
''I wish you could make me-" impul
sively
Then" he said. with sudden deter
mination when you do we will teach
him what wonderful woman you are
and he viii approve
sand that would be the only way
It could be. ! think. for you could
never cast him aside. and | could new
er ask you to-never let you"
She withdrew her hand gently from
his ardent clasp.
"And now" she said brightly. with
an air of dismissing the topic. Ibid
you know that you are to dine with
Henry and me tonight? And after
ward you are to take me to church.
The preacher is very dull, but at least
listening to him will serve as sort of
f07 e,sx,