El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-04-08
The Husband Question
DR.. Haynes Proposes to Beatrice and
Admfres Her Frankness
when She Declines.
By Virginia Terhune Van de Water

TT WAS not until o'clock that DR..
Haynes helped Beatrice into his
car. which had stood before the
door for the past hour. As is always
the case in a departure after a So
journ of any length, a dozen things
had been deferred until the last mo-
ment, and the process of servant tip
ping, proteStatiOns OF gratitude and
atfecuQnate demonstrations between
Beatrice and her hOstesS-and finally
the mystery of a lost bag which was
found after ten minutes search in the
doctors automObile-all tended to ex-
naust the mans store of good temper
Accordingly, he sighed with relief
as ne drove his car out of the gate
and away from the chOrused fareweIIs
and friendly admOnitiOns.
Thank heaven, that's Overt" he ex-
claimed 1ervently, as the car sped
smoothly along the broad road en-
circling the lake. I wonder what YOU
women would do if you were going
to EurOpe"
The widows nerves had been sorely
tried by the hustle Of departure The
tactless speech of her companion did
not tend TO soOthe them
The Doctor Is Silent.
The physician wisely refrained from
further discussion of the point. and
called attention to the faint tarnish
OF brown that was beginning to ap-
pear on the slopes of the distant hills
He paused, then continued as his
companion made no reply. -Four
months ago considered you a selfish,
vain woman"
Upon my wOrdr' exclaimed Beatrice
with a gasp Of astOnishment. You
are frank DR.. Haynes, even if you are
not complimentary.
Il said" continued the man imper-
turbably. that my opinions on many
things had changed since that time
you better this summer than I ever
knew any other woman except my
mother"
He paused while his light machine
painted its way up a hill. Then. as It
topped the crest, he went on in the
same placid tone Of voice.
what 1 said a moment ago is a
compliment in a way for you have
proved to me that 1 was wrong in all
my early estimates Of your character
began by disliking you. have ended
by caring for you very deeply. I love
you. / want you to marry me"
o.. The very uneXpectedness Of the dec
laratOn siIenced the woman for 4
minute She had wondered often II
the physician was not becoming fond
Of her But she had not anticipated
this-yet-
I don't understand you. fear" she
faltered- DO you really mean that
Il mean that I love you" repeated
the man And I ask you to marry
me. VIII you?"
But" Beatrice stammered, COM
pletely at loss as TO how to reply.
~ on have given me no time to think,
and I must have time"
AS rule. if a woman cares for a
man she knows it without taking
time to think about it," answered the
physician sententiOusly.
The plain, blunt speech affected
Beatrice strangely Affections ami
insincerities seemed for the moment
to slip away from her as things that
were iSnOble. For perhaps the firsS
time in her life she told the straight
truth TO a man who made love to her.
DR. Haynes" she said, "I do not
love you: therefore I cannot MARI
YOU I would not tell you this so
plainly if I did not believe that you
want an honest, raightfOrward an
swer. value your friendship greatly,
and it would make me very unhappy
to feel that I had lost it because of
what I am telling you now. 7 owe
YOU more than it will ever be possible
Tor me to express in the way Of graft
tude-but / cannot marry you"
She paused and looked at the face
OF the man seated beside her. He
was pale. but his countenance was /
otherwise eXpressiOnless. A sudden |
thrill of pity ran through her. and /
she laid her hand gently on his arm.
Dear DR.. Haynes" she said softly, /
please be my friend still
Must he Her Friend.
The physician drew in his breath |
sharply, and tried TO smile Then he /
looked frankly into the eyes raised to |
his
Bless your dear heart" he said. /
with a poor attempt at cheerfulness, !
.yOu couldn't keep me from being /
your friend il you tried to. Forgive |
me for making an old fool Of myself |
We will Just try to forget that this J
ever took place. And I i
am your friend now and always /
thank you for answering my question 1
All women would not have been so 4
sincere and free from foolish vanity \
and cOQuetry. I knew I could expect 4
from YOU an honest, true statement OF 4
a fact"
If Beatrice Minor thought at that /
moment of the manner in which she
had replied to proposals from other
suitOrs, she made no sign.