Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1913-02-27

sentiment"
Isis she married?" asked Eleau-
or in u small weak voice,
mo"
We ought to be able to comfort
each other since We both are unfor-
tunately in love, Let's exchange sto-
ries, will you, honestly"
The lawyer looked at the pretty
pensive face In the freight He
reached In his pocket for a cigar and
Eleanor put matches and n tray con.
veniently near.
Thank you" he said. An old
bachelor"
You're moi very old" interrupted
the girl.
Well. you can't get around the fact
that ! am a bachelor and 10 started
to say. 4 bachelor does appreciate
the attention Of a pretty young WON
an"
The cool impersonal voice sent a
wave of resentment over Eleanor.
You are trying to cover up some
thing now"
You are right again. | was Just
thinking that it wouldn't be wise to
tell you my story"
Are you afraid that THAT I will
tell?"
"Oh no. but 1t might make you IN.
happy"
1T couldn't make me any unhap
pier than l am now. You deserve ev-
erything good that life car give and
it seems so cruel that you should be
denied anything. A poet has said,
mans love is of mans life a thing
apart but 1t wouldn't be to a man
like you, Mr.. Bob"
You are forgetting your " hurt
in sympathy for me. That is how a
woman's instructive mother feeling to
comfort helps her bear a personal sor-
! row better than a man q under the
same circumstances. There is not a
time when l can force myself to for
get"
Does the woman love your"
mo. that Is why | have never had
the courage to ask her to marry me.
You have never told her that you
love herr"
mo. never"
why. maybe she loves you, Mr..
Bob. A woman doesn't carry her
heart on her sleeve you know"
II knew this woman when she was
a little girl" said the man reminis-
Gently. 81 watched her grow to wo-
manhood with many men to love and
court her. There was no place FOR
me. She regarded me as a kind good
natured old fellow in whom she could
| confide. That was all. Some day l
shall be asked to give her in mar
| rage" Mr.. Bob's voice was soft and
low and there vas a mellow sound
OF music in 1t. 81 shall feel her arm
tremble within mine as We advance
to meet the man she loves. Then
! when I have given her up to him, my
arms will drop at my sides, useless
and forever empty because of her. l
can not be her guardian then"
Eleanor bent forward eagerly, her
face radiant. Are you anybody's
guardian but mine?" she asked
breathlessly.
Mr.. Bob was leaning back in his
| chair, his eyes closed, his cigar dead
in his fingers.
mo" he said, mo. Eleanor"
"It's my time" and the happiness
in the girls voice would have arrested
any mans attention. II love a mar
who used to come to my house when
I was a little girl and bring me dolls
and candy. He would take me up on
his knee and tell ne the most beauti'
full stories in the world
There was a little flutter OF ashes
as Mr.. Bob's cigar dropped on the
floor.
Il was the happiest thing that drew
breath when he sent me on the day
of my debut party boxes OF violets
and lilies.of-the-valley. They are my
fayorite flowers and I thought
hoped that he cared for me. He Is
big. an intelligent giant, men say, and
lust now. | am wondering how | could
ever have expected him to love me.
I was engaged to Dick because |
thought that maybe when he asked
for me-the mar manages my worldly
interests-he would not give me up
to Dick. Now, will I have to ask him
to marry mel"
Eleanor felt herself lifted to her
feet and her head fitted 80 that Mr..
Mob could look straight into the
depths of her eyes.
do YOU know what you are say.
ing? Are you testing, Eleanor? l
love you, now you have a strong mans
secret without having had to shear
his hair to get it. Who Is the mar
you love, Eleanor
"You-always just you" came the
smothered answer.
my arms will never be empty. new
err" vowed Mr.. Bob.
downright. 1918, by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.)