The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1914-07-09

her with glazed eyes. AS she stared
back at him she had the curious feel
ing that he had shrunk perceptibly,
that his clothes hung rather Imply
on him. His face seemed to have lost
all Of it's smart symmetry; there was
a looseness about the mouth and chin
that had never been there before. The
saucy, arrogant mustache sloped de-
jectedly.
Il fancy you must have gone about
it very badly she said, pursuing her
lips.
"Badly?" he gasped "Why-why,
good heavens, Sara, l actually plead
ed with her." he went on, quite pa
thetically. "All but got down on my
knees to her. Oh me, if l can
understand myself doing it either. 1
must have lost my head completely.
Begged like love-sick schoolbcy!
And she kept on saying no-no-no!
And l, like a blithering ass, kept on
telling her l couldn't live without her,
that I'd make her happy, that she
didn't know what she was saying,
and But, good Lord, she kept on
saying no! Nothing but no! Do-do
you think she meant to say no? Could
| it have been hysteria? She said it SO
| often, over and over again, that it
might have been hysteria. l never
| thought Of that. Il"
mo, Leslie, it wasn't hysteria, you
may be sure of that she said de-
| liberately. She meant it, old fell
low"
| He sagged deeper in the chair.
"I-I can't get it through my head"
he muttered.
LAS l said before, you did it badly, !"
she said. You took too much for
granted. Isn't that true
God knows l did1t expect her to
refuse me-" he acclaimed, glazing at
her. would have been such fool
as to ask .Ier if thought there was
the rep,otest chance of being" The
very thought of the word caused it to
stick in his throat. He swallowed
hard
You really love her?' she demand
ed
Love her?' There was a sob in
his voice. 81 adore her, Sara.
can't live without her And the worst
of it is, 1 love her now more than
I did before. Oh, it's appalling! It's
horrible! What am l to do, Sara
What am 1 to do?"
BE man for a little while, that's
ALL she said coolly.
Don't joke with me-" he groaned.
GO to bed, and when you see hel
in the morning tell her that you un
derstand. Thank her for what she
has done for you. Be
THANK herr" he almost shouted
Eyes; for destroying all that is de
testable in you, Leslie-your self-con
ceit, your arrogance, your false no
tons concerning yourself-in word
your egotism."
He blinked incredulously. do yol
know what you're saying?" he gasped
She went on as if she hadn't heart
! him.
| Assure her that she is to feel NJ
| compunctjon for what she has doris
! that you are content to be her l0yal
| devoted friend 10 the end Of you
days"
! But, hang it., Sara, love her!"
Don't let her suspect that you ar
| uuIllllldIcu. Ou luC COICl al y, give uS
to understand that you are cleanse
/ and glorified."
What utter tor.my-"
: wait! Believe me, it is your onl
n chance. You will have to learn som
9 time that you can't ride roughsho
among angels. Think it over, old fe
II low. You have had good lessor
/ Profit by it,
you mean I'm to sit down an
& twlrl my thumbs and let some othe
s. chap snap her up under my very nose
o Well, l guess mott"
e. mot necessarily. If you take
manfully she may discover new i
X terest in you Don't breathe a wo1
s. Of love to her. Go on as if nothir
t. had happened Don't forget that
told you in the beginning not to tai
d no for an answer"
e He dropped once more, biting h
is lip Il don't see how l can ever te
t mother that she refused
"Why tell herr" she inquired, risin
id His eyes frightened. "By Jove,
d. shan't,' he exclaimed.
i'll Il am going up to the poor chi
now" she went on. 81 dare say "
I'd have frightened her almost to deaf
e, Naturally she is in great distress.
ty shall try to convince her that her c
O. cision does not alter her position
this house. l depend on you to
Id your part, Leslie. Make it easy f
her to stay on with me-"
ed IIe mellowed to the verge of tea
ne q can't keep on coming out he
wv after this. as I've been doing, Sar;
Don't be silly! OF course you &c
rs This will blow over
no BLOW over?" he almost gasped.
# ri mean the first effects. Try bel
Ie. martyr for a while, Leslie. 1t is
at bad plan, l can assure you. 1t m
lie interest you to know that Challis p
in posed to me three times before
ed accepted him, and yet II loved b
en- from the beginning"
rd by Jove!" he exclaimed, comi
he to his feet with a new light in
~ eyes. The hollows in his chez
seemed to fill out perceptibly.
er Good night"
mt Il say, Sara, dear, you'll-youll b.
tly me bit, won't you? l mean you'll tt
it over with her and
Nv. "My sympathy is entirely W
Misc Cootloton Che said from