Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-08-01

her. A short bassy-soatsd man out
side hevered anxiously around tho
building a1A paased the very window
Of that room. but the shade opDooato
them was down, and they ~ not
know. The low. pleasant voice wsat
on:
r have come to care great deal
for you since I nrst saw you, and
want you to give me tho right to care
for you always and protect you against
the whole world"
She looked up. wondering.
what do you meant"
II mean that love you. and want
to make you my wife. Then can de.
~ the whole world II need be. and put
you whore you ought to b."
"Oh!" she breathed softly.
wait, please" he pleaded. laying
his hand gently on her little, trembling
one. Don't say anything until have
iinished. know Of course that this
win 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 10 the only way can
help you. either. II you are not will
ing to be my wife. will md some
other plan. But this IL the best way.
IL it isn't too hard on you, for I love
you rs l never dreamed that I could
love . woman. The only question 10,
whether you can put up with me until
can teach you to love me q little"
She lifted eloquent eyes to his face.
"Oh, 1t 10 not that" she stammered.
rosy light flooding cheek and brow.
1T is not that ut all. But you know
nothing about me. II you knew, you
would very likely think as others do.
and"
Then do not tell me anything about
yourself, II II will trouble you. do
not care what others think. II you
have poisoned a husband. should
know that he needed poisoning. and
any way I should love you and stand
by you"
Il have not done anything wrong"
she said gravely.
Then II you have done nothing
wrong, We will prove 1t to the world.
or. II we cannot prove II, We will hy
to some desert island and live there In
peace and love. That 10 the way feel
about you. know that you are good
and true and lovely! Any one might
40 we'll try to prove to me that you
were Grassy - that you had done
wrong In any way"
Her face grew strangely white.
We'll, suppose I was crazy"
Then would take you and cherish
you and try to cure you, and II that
could not be done. should help you
bear It."
"Oh, you arc wonderful" she
breathed, the light Of great love
growing in her eyes.
The bare. prosaic walls stood stolid-
~ about them. Indifferent to romance
or tragedy that was being wrought
out within in vail. The whiri and
hum OF the city without, the Crime and
soil Of the city within, were alike for.
gotten BY these two a. their hearts
throbbed In tho harmony of . great
passion.
DO you think % you could learn 70
love mef' said the' mans voice. with
the sweetness Of the love song Of the
ages In IT, tone.
Il love yoa now" said the girls low
voice. RI think have loved you from
the beginning. though I never dared
to think Of It IN that way. But itwould
not b right for mo 10 become yosr
wife when you know practically moth
Ing about me"
Have you forgotten that you know
nothing Of met"
"Oh, do know something about
you" she said shyly. Remember that
I have dined with your friends. I
could not help seeing that they were
good people, especially that delightful
old man. the Judge. He looked star
tlingly like my dear father. saw how
they al honored and loved you. And
then what you have done for me, and
defenseless stranger. were equal 10
years Of mere acquaintance. feel
that know great deal about you"
He smiled. Thank you" he said.
''but I have not forgotten that some-
thing moro 10 due you than that slight
knowledge Of me, and before came
out here I went to the pastor Of the
church Of which my mother 10 mem
Der. and which have always attended
and asked him to write me letter!
He ID 30 widely known that felt 1t
would be an Introduction for me-"
He laid an open letter In her lap.
and, glancing down, she saw that 1t
was signed by the name of one of the
best known pulpit orators in the land.
and that 1t spoke in highest terms OF
the young man whom it named as my
well-loved friend"
TT 10 also your right to know that
have always tried to live pure and
honorable life. have never told any
woman but you that I loved her-ex-
cept an elderly cousin with whom
thought was In love when was
nineteen. She cured me Of 1t by
laughing at me, and have been heart
whole ever since"
She raised her eyes from reading
the letter.
"You have all these. and have
nothing She spread out her hands
helplessly. 1T must seem strange to
you that am In this situation. It does
to me. 1t IL awful"
She put her hands over her eyes
and shuddered.
''Yt IN TO save Won from II ali that