The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1913-11-07

0ohtpAA W me II uhu hHoWu MhNlN
Il was ! had not even missed II, be
cause at this time OF year have very
little use for It, II is my travelling
hat"
He looked at her again as though
the sight OF her was good TO him, and
his gaze made her quite forget the
words she had planned TO say.
Il am SO glad l have found you!"
he went on, You have not been out
OF my thoughts since left you that
light on the train | have blamed my
self over and over again for having
gone then. should have found some
way to stand by you, | have not had
one easy moment since ! saw you
last"
His tone was so intense that she
could not interrupt him; she could
only sit and listen In wonder, halt
| trembling, to the low-spoken torrent
OF feeling that he expressed She tried
TO protest, but the look In his face
stopped her. He went on with an
earnestness that would not be turned
ublut from lIs purpose
II came to Chicago that might
search for you, could not stand the
suspense any longer. have been look.
ing for you in every way could think
OF. without openly searching, for that
| dared not do lest | might Jeopardize
your safety. | was almost In despair
when | went TO dine with Mr.. Phillips
last evening. | felt | could not go
home without knowing at least that
you were safe, and now that | have
found you. cannot leave you until
| know at least that you have no
further need for help"
She summoned her courage now, and
spoke In a voice full OF feeling.
"Oh, you must not feel that way.
You helped me just when | did not
know what to do. and put me in the
way of helping myself. l shall never
cease to thank you for your kindness
to an utter stranger And now | am
doing very we'll" She tried to smile.
but the tears came unbidden instead.
You poor choldl" His tone was
full OF something deeper than compass.
sion. and his eyes spoke volumes. do
you suppose | think you are doing
well when / see you wearing the garb
OF meniel and working for people to
whom you are FAR superior-people
who by all the rights of education and
refinement ought to be in the kitchen
| serving your"
1T was the safest thing could do,
and really the only thing / could get
to do at once" she tried to explain,
I'm doing 1t better every day"
II have no doubt. You can be an
artist at serving as well as anything
else, II you try. But now that is all
over. am going to take care OF
you. There is no use in protesting.
II may not do it in one way, | win
in another. There is one question
must ask first, and l hope you will
trust me enough to answer 1t. Is there
any other-any other man who has the
right to care for you, and is unable or
unwilling to DO it?"
She looked up at him, her large eyes
still shining with tears, and shuddered
slightly.
"Oh. MOI" she said. "Oh, no, thank
God there is not! My dear uncle has
been dead for four years, and there
has never been any one else who
cared since Father died"
He looked at her, a great light be.
ginning to come into his face; but she
did not understand and turned her
head to hide the tears.
Then l am going to tell you some
thing" he said, his tone growing lower
yet clear enough for her to hear every
word distinctly.
A tall, oldish girl with a discon.
tented upper lip stalked through the
hall, glanced in at the door, and sniff'
ed significantly, but they did not see
her. A short, baggy-coated man out.
side lowered anxiousIy around the
building and passed the very window
OF that room, but the shade opposite
them was down, and they did not
know. The low, pleasant voice went
on:
81 have come to care great deal
for you since | first saw you, and
want you to give me the right to care
for you always and protect you against
the whole world"
She looked up, wondering
What do you mean?"
Il mean that love you, and l want
to make you my wife. Then can de-
fy the whole world If need be. and put
you where you ought to be-"
oh" she breathed softly.
Wait, please" he pleaded, laying
his hand gently on her little, trembling
one. Don't say anything until have
finished. | know of course that this
will be startling to you. You have
been brought up to feel that such
things must be more carefully and de,
liberately done. / do not want you to
feel that this is the only way | can
help you, either. II you are not will.
ing to be my wife, / will find some
other plan. But this is the best way,
if it isn't too hard on you, for l love
you as | never dreamed that | couId
love a woman. The only question is,
whether you can put up with me until
| can teach you to love me a little"