The Colorado statesman., 1913-06-14
HER SEVENTH ANSWER
BY FRANK II. MELooN.

an attic.
Tapestry hangings now hid the face
| of timbers rough-hewn in the days
, when Washington was young and
Fourth of Julys like any other day.
] for the house itself was of colonial
antiquity, and there were wide divans
on which one was allowed to sit
among dozens of cushions done in
colors to the rainbow unknown. There
was writing desk of odd design in
one corner, and a desk from the
depths of which a much-used type
writer was apt to half emerge, like a
Jack-in-the-box, If one walked about
with heavy step. There was the US
ual array of brass articles used for
ornamentation.
Now" she went on, very much
of what I've been able to do has been
owing to your kindness. OF course
thank you, Robert"
Il shall receive my reward some
day." / reminded her
so the Good Book says"
"Oh, 1 am speaking of temporal
things"
Your mind should be above them."
she admonished.
You are as near an approach to
divinity as l care for at present." 1
insisted.
You should be ashamed to say so.
What is any one of us after all?
What are our little loves, our half
formed fancies but things of a day
shadows that cross the face of the
great sun of fame?"
sD,,t ig
neither is it the thing of day." !
contradicted, hotly.
Edith blushed.
You think"
81 know"
Very WELL" this with resignation.
On the table lay sheet of Edith's
work, done in a masculine chiro-
graphy popular of late years.
What is this map of?'I asked,
innocently.
It's not map It's the start of a
story"
Where's the rest of it?"
"Oh, 1 haven't thought it all out
yet" with a sigh.
DO you know what the title is to
be?"
Il haven't decided on one"
will you let me suggest title for
it?"
But you don't know what the story
is about"
rs there any connection" l asked,
meekly, between story and its
title?'
Certainly" shifted Edith. indig-
nantly.
Then there's a missing link to
some" 1 declared.
Those are by inferior authors"
ITO change the subject, have you
sold any stories of late?" l asked.
mo, Robert, you are more partial
to me than the editors are"
"Confound them; I've half mind
to call on two or three of them and
let 'em know what l think of their
Judgment" l exclaimed. viciously.
IF l can't win by merit. l don't
want to win," she declared stoutly.
Edith" l asked, tenderly. why
couldn't you write just the same after
We were married?"
"Of all the impudence! I've not
said we were going to be yet. have L?
And, besides, marriage is said to be
an impediment to literary career"
Aren't so-and-so married?" 1 asked,
naming over half dozen of the best
known feminine authors of the day.
/ didn't know whether they were or
not, but spun them off at random.
Il suppose So" she admitted, doubt
fully.
l pursued my unscrupulously gained
advantage.
For the seventh time, Edith" 1
warned, Il am going to ask you to
marry me-"
And for the seventh time" she
began, mockingly.
Now, Edith l interposed. II am
only human and l can't go on this
way forever. l have here"-and l
showed it to her-"a ticket to Havana.
Shall l buy another, or go alone to-
morrow"
face. Her own was rather white. She
hesitated
THE seventh time" l said quietly,
taking up my hat. That was the
title / was going to suggest for your
story"
There was long silence. Edith's
face was half averted, but what I
could see led me to hope.
You are going?" she asked in a
voice intended to be quite steady, but
still looking away from me.
'If you tell me to-" replied.
Another silence.
Cant you get the tickets for a
week from tomorrow" she asked.
And that was Edith's seventh an
swer.
Copyright. by Daily Story Pub Coz
Siege OF Crete.