The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-01-27

would you like me to a for
he stammered. -
III you are not busy" said Miss
Dodeon. IT don't know how long this
meeting will last"
Perhaps" thought Benz, after sne
had gone and after he had
himself, 'she will fancy a run after
the meeting haS adjourned"
He did not wish to go to his ciuo
to wait; he didn't feel Just In the
mood for the crowd OF good fellows
he usually met there. He was curious
finally sneaked in and took a BACK
seat, feeling uncomfortably out OF
place
Miss Dodson's speech "a a very
enthusiastic, very earnest appeal loI
campaign contributions. For the
first time, woman suffrage became a
live issue with Benz. Without divulg-
ing his name, he managed TO HiAhe
q generous contribution.
Benz continued to find time TO
drive Miss Dodson to and from the
meetings OF the convention. hen
she felt disposed he asked PERMISSION
to turn of for longer excursions
through the country roads. he
chose for these the shaded lanes, lit
tie used. little known, and consequent
ly more attractive to himself7and,
he hoped, to Miss Dodson. Oc-
OCCASIONALLY he would point out a cot
tontail along the roadside, q redbird
in a thicket, or a cabin through an
avenue Of cedars. But he had little
to say.
Miss Dodson, too, had little to say
and here again she proved the excep-
ton to Benz's rules. Other women
who, by ingenious strategy, had corn
cred him had seemed to feel that they
must talk necessarily, thereby in
Ecreasing the strength Of Mr.. Benz's
lconviction hat all females were to
be avoided Moreover, they were in
quisitive. They asked impairment
questions; they insisted upon reason
) for things and refused to give n
themselves. Miss Dodson, it seemed
: to Benz, had intuitively understood
] him from the beginning.
It gave him a. new and impreSsible
joy to watch the look Of pleasure on
, her face as they drove through coun-
!. try lanes, sweet with the pure breath
{ Of the wood-woods that were the
E haunt Of birds, OF flowers, of smiling
streams, Of shadows, Of silence. He
e loved it all, and he felt that she loved
e It with him.
The convention lasted three days.
AS by a miracle, in three DAYS
J Benz's world of dreams suddenly be-
y came a real world; the little hut,
= just beyond the blue haze of the
J. pines herein dwells Romance, be-
y came a hut Of wood and stone. All
Il things assumed a changed and glori-
fed atmosphere; the most trifine
= events appeared in stupendous pro-
portions; life became re-colored, NOR
/ intense.
When he met his club mates he
20 made new and absurd excuses for hi.
l. absence from the poker-table. or wa,
g, nasty and irascible. They looked a,
y him askance and shook their heads
~ Benz did not realize what haf
"a taken place until the eve OF Miss bod
sons departure arrived. It came Owe,
him as he was dressing for dinner.
~ Her train was to leave at nine. TT,
ID glanced at hts watch. In two hour
!, she would be gonel He continued t,
lie dress, n~ervously, CAUTIOUSLY IKE
man dressing for his wedding. grow
re ing more and more excited, more an,
ne more bewildered, more and NOR
ty panie-stricken each moment. n,
a valet watched him in surprise as h
1t. discarded first a tie. thea a collar an,
IL q suit He brushed his hair again an,
LIST again n finally tore of his dime
lis clothes and put on a sack suit. n
*. finished dressing hal an hour befor
ne was due at Brownies door. He ha
still some time to wait. He did nc
wish to go to dinner. He was nc
ISIS hungry. He smoked a great dea
The thought that she was leaving So
IT! tied like a weight on his chest. WI
could he do? How could he tell her
ito Ills ioeas became disconnected. cor
ar- fused. irrational. He was ncanah
of q decision.
u Finally he could remain in h
on rooms no longer. He got into his G,
and with the clutch in high gear a
ar not Stacker his speed until he neac,
ed Brownies. He was on the point
his going in. Here the question .Wb.
he shall I say?" halted him. He con
ort not answer this. The Brownies We,
IN still away. Benz tried to make htn
self believe that the improprieties
is h situation and not his waning 4,
i'm termination prevented his enteriY
IT'S. and telling Miss Dodson all that w.
in his heart. We
the He waited twenty minutes IN q,
agony OF indecision and suspense
in The ride to the station denress1
Of him. He seemed to breathe air fro
&c which all life-giving properties hs
no been extracted. Each troh : ho