The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1913-01-24
CHAPTER xll.-contlnusd.

But such a condition was, after all,
more apparent than real. In his heart
.Aleck knew that he did love Melanie
enough" however much that might
be. He loved her enough to want,
not only and not mainly, what she
could give TO him; but he wanted the
happiness OF caring for her, cherish
ing her, rewarding her faith with his
own. She had not seen that, and II
was his problem to make her see It,
There was only one way. And so, in
forgetting himself. forgetting his
wants, his comforts, his studies and
his masculine will-herein was the
biossoming of Alexis soul.
Melanie instinctively felt the sub
tie change, and knew in her heart
that Aleck had won the day. though
she still treated their engagement as
an open question. Aleck would read
to her in his simple, unaffected man
ner. sometimes with Madame Reynier
and Mr. Chamberlain also for audi.
ence, sometimes to her alone. And
since they lived 'keenly and loved all
books spoke to them of their life or
their love A line, a phrase, a thought,
would ring out of the record, and each
would be glad that the other had
heard that thought sometime they
would talk it all over. They learned
to laugh at their own whimsical preju-
dices, and then insisted on them all
the harder; they learned, each from
the other. some bit of robust optimism,
Borne happiness of vision, some
further reach of thought.
After they had read, they would play
at quoits, struggling sternly against
each other; or Chamberlain would ex-
anime Melanie in nautical lore; or to- |
gether, in the evening, they would |
trace the consultations in the heav-
ems. During their first week they were
in the edge of storm for a night and
a day; but they put into harbor where
they were comfortable and safe, and
merry as larks through it ALL
So, day by day, Aleck hedged Me-
lanie about with his love. Was she
thoughtful? He let her take, as she
would, his thoughts, the best he could
give from his mature experience Was
She gay? He liked that even better,
md delighted to cap her gaiety with
lis own queer, whimsical drollefies.
Ter get far from him in spirit. 1t was
Tot in her heart to keep him from
Ter; but Aleck achieved the super
feat Of making his influence ,
elt most keenly when she was alone ,
'he dwelt upon him in her thoughts ,
nore intensely than she herself knew; +
nd that intenseness was only the re- 6
ection of his own thought for her. ,
They had been sailing little more +
han a week, changing the low, :
lacid Connecticut fields for the q
Ougher northern shores, going some r
mes farther out to sea, but delight
lg most in the sweet, pine-fringed U
past Of Maine. There we're no more h
Lrge cities to visit, only small viii q
ges where fishermen gathered after g
leir weeks haul or where slow, primi-
We bodybuilding was still carried on. L.
ost of the inhabitants of the coast o.
,untry appeared to be farmers as h
ell as fishermen, even where the soil
as least promising. The aspect of Il
e shores was that Of a limited but
irly prosperous agricultural com Iii
unity. Under the shadow of the hills OF
ere staid little homes, or fresh-paint-
smart cottages. Sometimes a bold
ck-bank formed the shore for miles al
ID miles, and the hills would vanish di