The Odanah star. [volume] (Odanah, Ashland Co., Wis.) 1912-1916, 1914-10-16

He promised me faithfully to drop her
for keeps"
Months ago. He has kept his prom
Use until now. / know he has. The
strange part of 1t is, the woman her
self hates him. She says vile things
about him."
"To your"
mo, not to mel" cried Merr,
quickly. "She never speaks to me.
We have reached the freezing point in
our acquaintance" &
| Dorcas rose and walked to the win
| dow with her hands elasped tightly
together. There were grave questions
I to be decided and burdens to be lifted
strange, unaccustomed burdens.
She began to speak in a strange, tone
/ less voice.
! IT don't know what I'm going to do.
Ever since was little girl there was
Enoch. I never had anybody else be-
longing to me, only never missed
them, for had him."
| She stretched out her hands as a
child might have done and raised her
! face to the man beside her as If in
| appeal for help and guidance. He took
her fingers between his own with
swift grasp, caught her in his arms,
and kissed her.
"Dorcas, tell me, tell me the truth.
Do you love me?"
Their eyes met, and the girl under
stood. A bewildering happiness which
TRANSPORTED life throbbed through her
heart and body. Merry's face was
luminous, his eyes shone, he seemed
TRANSPORTED, in one abrupt moment,
from listless visionary to man
alive with manly vitality.
Dorcas heard the moments licked
out by the little gilt clock on the man
tel. Time did not count. The world
had changed. She realized what hap
piness meant, a happiness which
closed a door upon every intolerant
thing in the world. She remembered
how in the play she had simulated,
night after night, the joy of woman
as she met her lover. She had spent
days in working up that semblance OF
radiant gladness. She had played the
scene many times to an Outburst or
applause, now she smiled, it seemed so
pale and Intellectual to her today.
Andrew put his fingers under her
chin, raised her face, and looked into
her eyes.
| Dearest" he asked, "are you sure
sure that you love me?"
"Yes," she whispered.
Listen, don't answer for a minute.
I want you to understand. l would
not be satisfied unless I have every
thing. / want you to trust me, to be-
lieve in me, and to love me as WON
an like you could love man. One
night, months ago, l had it In my
heart to ask you this. That night
felt like a man who, lonely and cold,
tramps through the streets OF city
looking into firelit, happy homes. That
night wanted your love, your faith
yourself. You know the night l mean,
when you pulled me out of hell and
set my feet on the high road, Then
you might have given me pity per-
haps-"
Dorcas interrupted him. She put
up her hand and pushed aside the lock
Of hair which had strayed over his
forehead.
Il do not think, then, it would have
been pity-alone," she confessed.
He took her in his arms again. "A
man ought to have pride and manli-
ness enough" he said passionately. Ito
want his wife to love him without one
touch of pity. And yet, have wanted
| you SO long. l have not host OF
| friends. like some men. I am lonely.
Life has been so empty for me. l want
a home, where wife is waiting to
welcome me-and little children, dear.
He lifted her hand and kissed it. "You
would think me a foolish fellow If !
confessed the dreams I have had.
have dreamed of you opening the door
of our home, of you coming to meet
me with a smile and Outstretched
arms. have dreamed of feeling your
kiss upon my lips, of holding you
close to my heart as I do now. | have
been dreaming foolish dreams like
these" he laughed TREMENDOUSLY, "since
that night in November, and have
scarcely dared to hope that you even
believed in me-"
Dorcas smiled into his eyes. II have
always believed in you. l never lost
faith in you or in your genius for
one moment And" she paused as II
making confession, 81 have loved you
for a long time, ever since that night.
the same night, when you came back
and 1 was so happy"
THAT night" said Andrew, was the
miracle moment Of my life"
"Was it so wonderful as that?" she
whispered.
when think, dearest, Of what you
have stood for to me, it is miracle"
ut is an everyday miracle!"
There are no everyday miracles"
said Merry. Then he kissed her
again.
She turned away from him to stare
out at the window again. On the side
walks the rush of city life went on
unanimously. Half an hour before