The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1912-07-02

board. Pm-I'm ID"
He dropped heavily into chair
at the end OF the table and looked at
her with glazed eyes. AS she stared
back at him she had the curious feel
ing that he had shrunk perceptibly,
that his clothes hung rather Imply
on him. His face seemed to have lost
all OF It's smart symmetry; there was
a looseness about the mouth and chin
that had never been there before. the
saucy arrogant mustache sloped de-
jectedly.
Il fancy you must have gone about
It very badly" she said, pursuing her
lips
"Badly?" he gasped "Why-why
good heavens, Sara, | actually plead
ed with her." he went on, quite pa
thetically. "All but got down on my
knees to her. D-n me, II can
understand myself doing It either l
must have lost my head completely.
Begged like a love-sick schoolboy!
And she kept on saying no-no-no!
And /, like a bllthering ass, kept on
telling her / couldn't live without her,
that I'd make her happy, that she
didn't know what she was saying,
and But, good Lord. she kept on
saying mol Nothing but no! Do-do
you think she meant to say no? Could
It have been hysteria? She said 1t so
often, over and over again, that 1t
might have been hysteria- ! never
thought of that. I"
mo. Leslie. It wasn't hysteria, you
may be sure OF that" she said de-
liberately. she meant 1t. old fel-
low"
He sagged deeper in the chair
I'll can't get it through my head"
he muttered.
"As said before, you did 1t badly"
she said. "You took too much for
granted. Isn't that true?"
God knows | didn't expect her to
refuse me-" he exclaimed, glaring at
her Would have been such a fool
as to ask her II ! thought there was
the remotest chance of being" The
very thought of the word caused 1t to
stick in his throat. He swallowed
hard.
you really love herr" she demand
ed.
Love herr" There was sob in
his voice. 81 adore her, Sara. |
cant live without her. And the worst
OF It is, love her now more than
| did before. Oh. it's appalling! It's
horrible! What am / to do, Sara?
What am to do?"
BE man for a little while, that's
ALL" she said coolly.
Don't joke with me-" he groaned.
Go to bed, and when you see her
in the morning tell her that you un'
derstand Thank her for what she
has done for you. Be"
THANK herr" he almost shouted.
"Yes; for destroying all that is de.
testable in you, Leslie-your self-con'
ceit, your arrogance, your false no
tions concerning yourself-in word
your egotism."
He blinked incredulously. DO you
know what you're saying?" he gasped
She went on as If she hadn't heard
him.
Assure her that she is to feel nc
compunction for what she has done
that you are content to be her loyal
devoted friend to the end OF youl
days"
But, hang It, Sara, love her!"
Don't let her suspect that you arr
Inundated. On the contrary, give he
to understand that you are cleanset
and glorifled"
What utter tommy"
wait! Believe me. 1t is your onl,
chance. You will have to learn SOM
time that you can't ride roughsho,
among angels. Think 1t over. old fel
low. You have had good lesson
Profit by It,"
'You mean I'm to sit down an
twirl my thumbs and let some othe
chap snap her up under my very nose
Well. | guess not!"
mot necessarily, II you take
manfully she may discover new In
terest in you. Don't breathe wor
of love to her. Go on as II nothin
had happened. Don't forget that
told you in the beginning not to TAX
no for an answer"
He dropped once more, biting hi
ftp. 81 don't see how / can ever tel
mother that she refused"
"Why tell herr" she inquired, rising
His eyes frightened. "By Jove.
shan't," he exclaimed.
II am going up to the poor chill
now" she went on. 81 dare say yo
have frightened her almost to deatl
Naturally she is in great distress.
shall try to convince her that her d.
clsion does not alter her position |
this house. / depend on you to d
your part. Leslie. Make 1t easy fo
her to stay on with me-"
He mellowed to the verge Of tear
81 can't keep on coming out her
after this. as I've been doing, Sara.
Don't be silly! OF course you cal
This will blow over"
BLOW over?" he almost gasped.
81 mean the first effects. Try bein
martyr for a while, Leslie. 1t ism
a bad plan. | can assure you. 1t ma
interest you to know that Challis pr
posed to me three times before
accepted him, and yet IL loved hi
from the beginning"
"By Jovel" he exclaimed, comm
to his feet with new light in h
eyes. The hollows in his cheel