The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1914-01-02

You see, / can ask her and get 1t set
tied. think I'll go find her. I'm rath-
er sorry wasted my time over that
other silly girl. Anyway, 1t makes my
choice much easier"
When Lord Densham suggested to
Sibyl Castlemaine that they should sit
the dance out in the conservatory she
saw that he meant to propose to her,
and his lordship perceived that under
the circumstances there was nothing
to be gained by beating about the bush,
and so he quickly led up to the busi-
ness he had come to negotiate.
sit is rather serious to be standing
on the edge of new year." he said.
Dear Miss Castlemaine, l want to be
better man In the future than in the
past, and you, only you, can help me.
What is needed to make my happiness
complete, to crown all my hopes and
perfect my manhood, is woman's
love- Sibyl-let me call you Sibyl, my
love-will you be the woman? VIII
you marry me?"
In the seclusion of the conservatory
he opened his arms q little. as though
he expected her to creep in, and he ex-
banded his chest to receive the burden
of the dainty little head that was to
nestle gently on 1t. But it was
night of surprises.
81 am very sorry you should have
asked me this. Lord Densham," said
Sibyl gravely. 81 am conscious Of the
vastness of the compliment, and 1 am
not blind to the advantages Of your
offer, but do not love you"
you don't love me?" repeated his
lordship In a tone of disappointment
that had suspicion of incredullty in
1t. "You don't love me? But surely
that is only matter of time. When
you have seen more Of me. when you
know me better, Sibyl"-
my decision would not alter, Lord
Densham. Will you please take me
back? | am engaged for the next
dance"
With a wonderful smile on his lips,
In which modification, pity and sur
prise were blended. he politely offered
her his arm and led her back to the
ballroom. AS they entered 1t they al
most ran into Cecil Briarley. He was
about to walk past them when Sibyl
said:
"Oh, Cecil, here you are! You're just
in time"
Densham yielded her up with his
customary smile.
They were about to join the dancers
when it was announced that the mys-
tic midnight moment had arrived, and
those who cared to do so were to go to
the open windows and on to the door
steps and the balconies to listen and
wait for the solemn peal that was to
mark the annual recommencement.
Briarley got wrap to throw over his
Cousins shoulders. and then they went
to the farther corner of the long bal
cony.
"Are you thinking Of the new year."
asked Cecil.
mo; ! was thinking of Tantalus."
81 hope you pity him"
81 don't think | do responded his
cousin softly. feeling glad that the
shadows hid her bIushing cheek. per
haps his prize was not so rar out OF
his reach as he imagined"
"Sibyl. didn't Densham ask you any
thing?" he whispered.
Eyes. Cecil. and-and I performed a
modern miracle"
my darlingP' and then there was
silence.
"Sibyl. you know I am not a rich
man. and am not lord"
"And you are not horribly conceited
and selfish either. dear"
He did not remove his arm, and
sudden hush of expectancy quleted the
chattering party. Nothing was heard
for a moment. and then from a dozen
Changing clocks all around them there
doomed forth the solemn chime that
announced the birth of the new year.
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