El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-05-29

| DroAe upon Eulln aaleS MIND
/ all the color left her face.
What do you mean?" she gasped.
He glanced apprehensIvely toward
! the staircase. but the girls had paused
! in the upper hall to wait for one of
! their group. He heard one Of them
( call out, Come along, Emily We're
waiting for you" and the reply. I'm
! coming in q minute-just as soon as I
I can arrange this pesky scarf over my
I head"
Ralph spoke hurriedly: Z mean that
| I love you, Edith. You know I do.
/ You may not think you love me, but
I will be willing to wait until you do.
| I cannot expect that you care for me
I yet as much as you have cared for
Tom"
He had chosen his words cleverlv.
and the girl threw back her head with
I a disdainful gesture. Tom" she ex-
claimed. Il never want TO hear his
name againt I never loved him. al
! though 1 was so foolish as to think I
did. Now I hate him.
You don't hate me, dear" Ralph re-
minded her. Give me a trial, Edith.
1 don't ask you to love me now. You
may Danish me later il you like But
dearest, love you so much that I want
10 put myself at your service. II peo-
pie are goSsipping about your engage
ment TO Tom say you are engaged to
me-"
But I'm nott" she whispered trem-
ulously.
You are if you say you are" he
urged You can break your engage
ment as soon as you want to, and have
1t known that you broke it But, dear.
use me as a shield now"
She caught her breath sharp. "As
Tom did," she sneered.
Edith. the man exclaimed do not
put yourself in such a category No.
not as Tom did, but as you. the woman
/ love, have a right 10 do-to honor
me by shielding yourself from gossip
by using my name"
How good you arer' she said.
The girls were coming TO the head
Of the stairs He held her hands in
his for 4 moment. viii you be en-
gased to me, darling" be asked
His face was white. his eyes burn
ing Her own eyes fell before his
gaze. YES" she whispered
he raised her hands 10 his lips Nor
did he hurry the action. All need Of
haste was past now. He did not care
If he and Edith were seen in their
present attitude. Darling" he muir
INJURED.
Beatrice Craig. leading the bevy Of
girls coming down from the dressing
room, stopped short on the stairs
oh" she exclaimed with a EigEIe, Z
7 fear we intrude"
Edith snatched her hands from
Ralph's grasp. a flood OF crimson color !
flowing over her face and neck Bea- |
trlce ran swiftly down the stairs and I
threw her arms about the blushing {
girl laughing loudly as she did so.
On, she gushed You need not +
look so ashamed-even If you have I
surprised US an I thought all the ]
time that IL was Tom Now I under ]
stand why he was not here tonight"
"Husht" Edith begged. glancing ner-
vously At the others who had heard (
only part Of Beatrice's speech.
Beatrice lowered her voice but re- /
peated her remark IT thought IL was
Tom-and so did everybody else"
|slNN
everybody was mista ken"
The gossip held out her hand TO
Ralph my warmest congratulations
she gigEled-
Please. Beatrice" Edith pleaded
don't talk about it now"
What's all this secrecy abOut?' the
other girls demanded, teasingfy, gath
ering about Edith and Ralph.
About nothingi" Edith declared.
pulling away from them and running
to the front door. Here she paused and !
looked back. her face suddenly serious.
If you girls are my friends" she said /
IN tense tones, you won't ask me any I
more questions"
All rightr Beatrice agreed. while
those who had not fully compre-
hended the situation looked puzzled. I
Before further comment could be made
Edith had stepped out upon the veran-
da, calling gayly:
Where are you ungallant men when
your ladies' are waiting here for you
to escort them homer
We're all coming in now" Mr.. Hale
answered cheerily from the end OF the
yeranda- We've just been gazing at I
the old moon up there"
He was standing near his daughter |
when Beatrice Craig bade her good
night It's been lovely affair. |
Edith" she said, "and I do hope YOU !
ire always going to be as happy as |
-Ou are tonight"
Thank you" Edith rejOined family. /
And, as for you" Beatrice said turn ]
ng to Ralph, you are mighty lucky
nanP
John Hale started violently. He