Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1913-11-06

wv NNAJ III
she said in a very low voice, "unless-
unless you do love me-.
His fingers closed so tightly upon
hers that she looked up. her eyes SWIM
ming with tenderness. Neither spoke
for a long minute, but words were not
needed to tell what the soul was say
ing through the eyes.
II do love you-you know 1 do, Con-
ME. I've loved you from the first day.
cannot live without you. Connie,
darling. you won't keep me waiting?
You will be my wife-you will marry
me at once? You do love me. l know
I've known it for days and days.
She whimsically broke in upon his
passionate declaration, saying with a
pretty petulance: ooh, you have?
What insufferable conceit. p
He laughed joyously. ~ never was
so sure of anything in my life" he
said. "You couldn't help loving me.
Constance; I've loved you so. You
don't have to tell me. dear; I know.
Still. I'd like to hear you say, with
those dear lips as we'll as with your
eyes. that you love me-"
She put her hand upon the back Of
the broad n which held the other i'm
prisoned; there was a proud, earnest
light in her eyes. II do love you" she
said simply.
God. but I'm a happy man." he ex-
Tilted. Forgetful of the time and the
place, be half arose and, leaning for
ward, kissed her full upon he upturn-
ed lips.
There was a rafting of chinaware
behind them. In no little confusion
both came tumbling down from para
disc and found themselves under the
abashed scrutiny Of a very red faced
young serving woman.
"Oh. never mind" stammered Gret-
chen quite amiably. II am used to
that, madam. A great many ladies'
and gentlemen come here to-to-what
you call it," She placed the tea and
sandwiches before them, her fingers all
thumbs. her cheeks aglow.
Brock pulled himself together. Very
sternly he said. This young lady is to
be my wife"
"Ach," said Gretchen, with a friend
ly smile and the utmost Difference,
that is what they all say, mein herr"
Then. giggling approvingly. she hustled
away.
Brock waited until she was out of
sight. "She seems to be on to us, as
Freddie would say. But what do we
r9rpt P6 iEn RI Stoo1 an ton of tl,
Bandjoch and shout the news to the
world. Wouldn't you, dearest?"
1.-The world wouldn't hear us. dear
she said coolly. Besides. it's rainin.
up there. lust look at it sweeping
down upon us Goodness"
He laughed hilariouSly. amused By
her attempt to be caSuaI and indiffer
ent. You can't turn it off SO easily as
that. dearest" he cried. Come. While
it rains we may plan. You will marry
me-tomorrow?"
mo" she cried. aghast. How utter.
ly ridiculous!"
"Well, then. day after tomorrow"
mo, no. nor week after next. p
"See here. Connie. we've got some
one else to consider as we'll as our
selves. In order to square it all up for
Edith we must be able to say to these
people that we haven't been frivoling-
that we are going to be married at
once. That will let Edith out Of the
difficulty, and everything will look rosy
at the outset. If we put it off the
world will have said things in its ig-
norance that she can never refute. sim.
ply because the world doesn't stop long
enough to lear two sides of a story
unless they are given pretty closely to-
gether. Now. Edith is counting on US
TO put the peeping Tom Rodneys and
the charitable Carneys to rout with
our own little bombshell. They're say
Ing nasty things about all of US.
They're calling you a vile thing for
stealing your sisters husband, and
they're calling me a dog for what In,
doing No telling what they'll be say
ing if we don't step into the breach
as soon as it is opened. We can't at
ford to wait. no matter what Roxbury
says when he comes. We've just got
to be able to forestall V dear old
Roxbury. Come! Don't you see? We
must be married at once"
Dear me-" she murmured softly,
what will papa say?"
My dear Constance. l will explain
it all to your father when he gets back
from South America next winter"
1t was now raining in torrents. They
moved back into the darkest recess of
their shelter and blissfully looked out
upon the drenched universe with eyes
that saw nothing but sweet sunshine
and fair weather.
The Gathering Of horses hoofs upon
the hard mountain road sounded sud
denly above the hiss of the rainstorm.
1t was quite dark by this time. night
having been hurried on by the lower
ing skies. A moment later three horse
men. drenched to the skin. drew up in
front of the inn. threw their reins over
the posts and dashed for shelter. They
came noisily into the arbor. growing
and 1to mnjpC thoir Snrov foot