The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1914-08-27

mistake for you to marry me- said
Hetty in troubled voice. Il feel that
Sara will not let me CO."
That's pure nonsense, Hetty," he
said. She wants you to marry me, l
am positive" He may have thought
his tone convincing. but something
caused her to regard him rather fixed
ly, as If she we're trying to solve an
elusive puzzle.
He took her by the arm and raised
her to her feet. Holding her quite
close, he looked down into her ques-
tion1ng eyes and said very seriously:
You are suspicious, even of me-
dearest. l want you. There is but
one way for you to be at peace with
yourself; shift your cares over to my
shoulders. l will stand between you
and everything that may come up to
trouble you. We love one another
Why should we sacrifice our love for
the sake of a shadow? For a week,
dearest, I've been pleading with you:
won't you end the suspense today
end it now-and say you will be my
wife?'
The appeal was SO gentle, SO sincere,
so full of longing that shs wavered.
Her tender blue eyes, lately so full Of
dread, grew moist with the ineffable
was in them. Her warm, red lips part
| ed In dear little smile of surrender.
You know l love YOU she said
| TREMENDOUSLY.
He kissed the lovely, appealing lips,
not once but many times
| God, how l worship you," he whis-
pered passionately. Il can't go on with
| out you, darling. You are life to me. l
love you! l love you!"
She drew back in his arms, the
shadow chasing the light out of her
eyes.
I'VE are both living in the present,
we are both thinking only of it, Bran
don. What of the future? Can we fore
see the future? Dear heart, l am al
ways thinking of your future, not my
own. Is 1t right for me to bring YOU"
And I am thinking only of your fu-
ture,'' he said gravely. The future
that shall be mine to shape and to
make glad with the fulfilment of every
|
of US. Put away the doubts, drive out
the shadows, dearest. Live in the light
for ever. Love is light"
IF l were only sure that my shad-
ows would not descend upon you, L"
He drew her close and kissed her
again
Il am not afraid Of your shadows.
God be my witness. Hetty, l glory in
them. They do not reflect weakness,
but strength and nobility. They make
you all the more worth having.
thank God that you are what you are,
dear heart"
Give me a few days longer, Bran
don," she pleaded. Let me conquer
this strange thing that lies here in my
brain. My heart Is yours, my soul is
yours. But the brain is rebel.
must triumph over it, or it will always
lie in wait for a chance to overthrow
this little kingdom of ours. Today
have been terrified. l am disturbed
Give me few days longer"
Il would not grant you the respite
were l not SO sure Of the outcome" he
said gently, but there was thrill OF
triumph in the tones. Her eyes grew
very dark and soft and her lips trem
bled with the tide of love that surged
through her body. "Oh, how adorable
you are!" he cried, straining her close
) III sudden ecstasy of passion.
J The doorbell rang. They drew apart
, breathing rapidly, their blood leapins
with the csiltact of opposing passions
) their flesh quivering. With a shy
, sweet glance at him. she turned to
ward the door to await the appearance
J Of Watson He could still feel her II
his arms.