Rocky Ford enterprise., 1912-03-29
CHAPTER xv.-contInued.

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
pering creature of a woman. II would
have been different Instead. she
amazed him with her simplicity and
wholesomeness. 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 ioyfellow-this was
what Dede had surprised him in. Aud
the more she became worth while. the
more ardently his love burned. un-
consciously shading his voice with
caresses. and with equal unconscious
ness fiaring up signal fires in his eyes
women before her. she thought to play
with the pretty fire and escape the
consequent conflagration."
Winter viii soon be coming on"
she said regretfully. and with provocn.
ton. one day, land then there won't
be any more riding"
But I must see you in the winter
Just the same" he cried hastily
She shook her head
I've been pretty good" he declared
Il leave 1t to you II ! haven't. Its
been pretty hard. too. ! can tell you.
You Just think It over Not once have
] said a word about love to you. and
me loving you all the time. That's
going some for a man that's used to
having his own way I'm somewhat
OF a rusher when IL comes to travel
ing | reckon I'd rush God Almighty
if it came TO race over the ice And
yet didn't rush you | guess this
fact is an Indication of how much 1
do love you. OF course ! want you to
marry me. Have said a word about
IT. though? Nary n chirp. nary a fiut.
ter i've been quiet and good, though
it's almost made me sick at times. this
: keeping quiet | haven't asked you 10
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?"
He shrugged his shoulders. Il don't
know. and amt going to take
chances on It 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 Dedes experience Nor had she
ever heard of anything like it
so 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 It is" she interrupted 81
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"
Its because you don't like my way
of living" he charged. thinking in his
own mind of the sensational joy-rides
and general profligacy with which the
newspapers had credited him-think-
ing this, and wondering whether or
not, in maiden modesty. she would
disclaim knowledge OF it.
To his surprise. her answer was fat
and uncompromising.
NO; / don't"
81 know I've been brash on some Of
those rides that got into the papers"
be began his defence. "and that I've