Las Vegas optic., 1913-09-26

you, and you have encouraged me
beautifully without in words commit
/ ting yourself. You have gone every
where with me, / have carried you
over rough places, literally as well
iguratively. You have, on rare occa-
sions, let me kiss you. You have
with your sweetness and dearness
coaxed the heart out Of me. It Is IN
your keeping, and l demand an ac-
counting. / don't know any way but
this to get positive answer We are
long way from shore. the water is
deep, and you can't swim, fact Of
which you should be ashamed, since
have offered to teach you, You
shouldn't allow yourself to be afraid
of water-you know that" He turned
and scanned the lake. Now" he went
on, I'VE will have to have things out
with each other You have never let
me openly ask you to marry me You
have interrupted, fed, ioked, torment
ed, all because you feared that being
engaged would cut short some OF
| lOut III LdtlOnS+ w lllSll 10 PSAASN@AI
true My fiancee can't coquette with
every man in sight, she will have to
behave" He put on his cap and
went to work again with the paddle
talking as he did so.
Briefly, you mary me or you don't
and you decide now, Uncle Martin Of
| fers me a partnership in his Denver
business. a sure thing and money
maker, and am to let him know to-
night what / viii do If take it l
shall leave Immediately for Colorado.
If don't, shall go on with my pres
ent work, which l like best. But
your preference would decide me.
This is why it is up to you, What are
you going to do with me?"
She gave him look of utter scorn,
do you think you can-bully meT'
she inquired. Did you think this
could make me-love you?"
He smiled "No-if I didn't happen
to know that you love me, If didn't
know how you love to dangle and tor
ment a man I would never have tried
It. But you do love me-only you
hate to give in and admit it, and !
shall not take you back to shore un.
til you dol have lunch in this box,
and we stay here until midnight-or
morning. unless you"
Her blue eyes widened and flashed
and without a seconds hesitation she
gave a vicious little leap and over
turned the canoe in mid-lake.
Just as Vane Harris went over he
had the presence of mind to give a
mighty shout for help. Two men not
far behind them came at their best
speed. vane had gone down and
come up coolly, made grab fof
Patricia and with her was holding to
the overturned canoe. Lawrence Pat
terson and another man padded
alongside, but just as they began
righting the overturned craft and
had safe hold on the girl, Vane
gave a convulsel gasp. struggled, and
suddenly sank like lead. He did not
come up again At first Patricia did
not realize the truth, then she gave q
little cry. and they pulled her to
safety
There was some shouting for help
md in a minute a half dozen boats
some swimmers, boys and men. were
in the. scene. There we're directions.
livings. fears-and finally the young
mans limp body was ffshed up.
hauled into a boat and hurried to the
nearest shore. He was rubbed, water
vas emptied out of him, air was
,orced into him, he was blanket.
wrapped, manipulated Patricia
could not be coaxed or forced away
She stood by. ash-white hugging about
her dripping figure big blue cloak
Finally vane gave deep gaspine
breath, choked, breathed again-and
opened his eyes. Patricia put her
hands to her face and wept Mrs
Forbes led her away, bundled her
into her car, and took her home She
put her to bed and began mtnistering
to her. The luncheon was forgotten
GU poor uSeLf sue COLliOl tCu
And on the very day your engage
ment is announced. You naughty girl
to let your friends see it first in the
Tribune! OF course we all knew yoy
| would marry him-but couldn't be
lieve my eyes this morning, so
called up Miss Clayton. She sait
Vane himself had asked her to prin
the announcement How lovely o
your Aunt Margaret to be your spon
sor."
Patricia hid her face on the pillow
So that was what he had donel n,
had heralded her consent before sh,
had given it! Well-hadn't she tor
mented, trailed-and finally nearl
killed him? Suppose he had drowned
!, She shuddered He should hav
things his own way, She knew nov
what life might have been withou
him. She turned a tear-wet but hap
py face to her friend
Mrs. Forbes. will you 90 and Sc
. how-vane is? Tell him as soon a
I he is able-T-want him-to come.
want tn soc him "