Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-01-04

Wv
oh" A pause. so you're, going
into business?"
''Ye-es: that is, think So"
is that SO personal that you didn't
want TO tell me-" There was an &C.
cusing emphasis on the me"
Douglass did not attempt to answer.
Zone of my girl friends doesn't
know just what to do, William. You
see, she's-she's-in love"
1 oh"
That oh was dreadtully noncom.
initial, William Aren't you inter.
ested?"
\ Why. yes, certainly, Miss Anne
well. she doesn't know whether
the young man ISIS In love with
her or not"
| Cant she tell?"
!! she isn't sure. She thinks he likes
her, but"
''Yes?"
"Oh, there are complications, vii.
! liam She is rich, and the young man
is poor. She feels he's TO proud to
speak"
s. Oh
We'll, what rs she going to do?
She's-shes cried herself to sleep.
I'm afraid, a good many times; and
/ to make him speak"
William looked up. The dark eyes
gazed innocently and perplexedly into
! his own.
There isn't any way. I'm afraid"
he said. with an unconscious sigh
If the man has self-respect, he can't
! be fortune hunter. He must make
| mis- own way before he can ask the
girl 10 be his wife"
She's thought of that, too. But It
seems so foolish! They may have to
wait years, and grow old and with
cred while he makes lot Of money
/ they don't need. Isn't marriage an
! equal partnership? Why hasn't the
wife the right to bring money to the
! union as her husband?"
From an tmpersonal standpoint.
she has," replied william. but II l
we're that young man ! would feel
/ as he feels. He cannot In honor
speak while his motives could be
! misconstrued. Her friends would
! say"
Bother her friends!" Miss Anne
looked confused when she realized
the emphasis she had put on the
three. words. but only for a moment.
! Then she added: That's the way
! she feels She says she has right
to her own happiness. no matter
what people think or say. She Is
| satisfied he Is not fortune hunter;
/ that he is upright and honorable.
| and the man nature intended as her
mate Why can't he be sensible and
speak,"
She leaned forward In her chair,
/ her lips dropping In childlike per-
j pleXity. Douglass got up hastily and
/ backed away He did not want to lose
his carefully acquired grip and make
a fool Of himself That's why he was
. leaving Thornybrook-to keep from
making a fool of himself He fumbled
! his hat and turned to the door.
He cant, that's ALL" declared
! Douglass, when his hand had closed
on the knob. ITS an impossibility,
! Miss Anne. II you were in his place
! you'd realize" He stopped; he
was confusing the other mans case
/ with his own.
Don't you want to know who the
! girl is?" asked Miss Thornton. I'm.
/ steadily. She had risen and her fin.
! gers were intertwined.
! why, yes" Douglass somehow
| felt the name Of that girl to be the
most important thing in the world.
/ The robins had ceased their billing
and cooling to listen. But he feared
, Miss Anne's words would be drowned
F., by the humping Of his heart.
/ 'It's-its-" Her voice died away.
And then it began again, broke and
went on to a triumphant conclusion:
/ "Oh, Billy, You stupid, stupid boy!
! lt's-it's Anne Thornton!"
/ Douglass stared unbelievingly, saw
, In her face what he had never dared
/ to hope to see and dropped his hat
I He rushed back.
The next moment she was In his
arms. half-laughing and half-crying.
How I've longed to call you Bill
| ly.'" she said.
And how I've longed to call you
-darling!" said he.
Give Up Secret Societies.
l oh inh nA