Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-04-30
CHAPTER XVI.

There, was no one left but Miss
Patty. Az she started out past him
with crimson spot In each cheek Mr.
Pierce put his hand on her arm. She
hesitated. and he closed the door on
Doctor Barnes and put his back
against It. had Just time to slip
back into the pantry and shut myself
in.
For . minute there wasn't = sound.
Then
II told you should come" Miss
Patty said. in her haushtiest man
ner. "You need not trouble to be
,disagreeable.
'Disasreeable!" he repeated. II am
abjecti"
II don't understand" she said. ''But
you needn't explain. It really does
not natter
1T matters TO me. had to do this
tonight. Iprpmised you would make
good, and II I had let this pass
Don't you see, couldn't let it co.
you can let me go now"
mot until have justified myself
TO you"
Il am not, Interested"
heard him take . step or two
toward her.
Il don't quite believe that" he said
in . low. tone. 'sYou were interested
in what / said here this afternoon =
{ Il didn't hear It."
/. ''None Of IT."
''Not-not ALL
Il spoke. you remember. about your
sister, and about Dick" he paused.
i could imagine her staring at him in
her wideeyed way.
"a You never mentioned them!" she
said .scornfully and stopped. He
laughed. . low laugh, boyash and full
sof triumph.
+, "Ah!" he said. $50 you did hear!
Inn going 10 cay It again. anyhow. !
love you. Patty. I'm-I'm mad for
you rye loved you hopelessly for %
long that tonight, when there's Q ray
Of hope, 1'm-lm hardly sane. n"
PLEASED" she said.
/. II love you 70 much that I Waken
at night just to say your name, over
and over, and when dawn comes
through the widow
You don't know what you ere ~.
sieel...she said wildly. Il an,-still- 2
II welcome the daylight" he went
ON. talking very fast, "beesuse Il
means another day when I can Gee
you. If It sounds foolish. lists
really lots woE1e than It sounds,
Patty" g5hT
The door opened just then. and
Doctor Barnes voice spoke fsom the
step.
: say" he complained, you
needn't"
Get QUIT" Mr.. Pierce said ansrily.
and the door slammed. The seconds
interruption gave him time. think.
to see how far he'd gone. and his
voice, when he spoke again, was not
90 hopeful.
I'm not pleading my cause" he
said humbly, II know haven't any
cause. have nothing to offer you =
you said this afternoon" Miss
Patty said softly. that you could Of
fer me the-the kind Of love that Q
woman could be proud Of"
She finished OF with . sort Of gasp,
- II che was shocked ct hssse&
They were standing facing each
other, he ali nushed ana eager and
my dear Miss Patty pale and trembly.
But she wasn't shy. She IVES looking
straight into his eyes and her blessed
lips were Quivering.
How can you care?'' she asked,
when he only stood and hooked at
her. eve been such such self
lsh beast!"
'.Hush!" He leaned toward her, and
held my breath. You are every
thing that is best in the world, and
What can i offer you? / have moth
ing. not even this sanatorium! No
money, no tile
"Oh, that" she interrupted, and
stood waiting. well. you-you could
ct least otter youlself!.'
'Patty!"
She went right over to him and
put her hands On his shoulders.
'And II you won't" she said. .11l
offer myself insteadl"
His arms went around her Hike q
Hash 1t that, and he kissed her.
Then. without releasing her. he
raised his head. with such look Of
victory In hts face that still sec Il
soustimes in my sassp. and his eys
caught mine through the crack.
Bat h I'd looked 70 sec him drop
her was mistaken. He drew hes
= a. a..