The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-02-24
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sue pubuoO ueIbSu Oocks INTO the
depths OF the low chair and for q mo-
ment closed her eyes. When she open.
ed them again Hhe found Fielding
standing over her, and then he reach.
cd for her hand which was gripping
the arm Of the chair. and raising it,
brushed the tips OF her fingers with
his lips.
blanche" he whispered, 81 wish
with all my heart that some woman
any woman, had the right to be jeal.
Gus Of me-"
Again she closed her eyes, and with
her free hand clasped the other arm
OF the chair.
Il know have NO right know its
quite mad Of me-but--"
She opened her eyes and In their
depths, where there was NO place for
subterfuge. and where one could look
only for the fearless truth, he saw the
answer to his unasked question. And
30 he bent over her still lower. 80
low that his lips touched hers. Then
ne stood quite erect and jerked his
chin In the air. and threw back his
shoulders. az all true conQuerors
should do. and at that mom~nt the
door opened and MIR. Wilmerding
hustled In.
well, young people," he cried,
"how are you? I've been bored as
Eve never been bored before, even at
bankers banquet"
speaking for myself" Fielding
said, I've never been 80 happy before
In my life. Mr.. Wilmerding. rye just
asked your daughter to marry me-"
The banker glared at Fielding with
wide-eyed wonder.
.Bless my soul" he gasped, "but
this II very sudden--at least 1t is to
ne. What did Blanche say?"
The girl walked over to Fielding
and put her arm through his.
Blanche really didn't say any
thing" she said. smiling frankly into
her fathers startled eyes. "but that's
all right. Porter understands"
A few minutes later Mr.. Wilmerding
pushed an electric button and when
the butler appeared he ordered q bot.
tie Of champagne and three glasses.
just as the servant was closing the
door, Wilmerding added: And some
cake. ! don't know why they have
cake on these occasions, but accord
ing to the best novels they always do,
and you two have got to eat cake II
it chokes you.".
Thus 1t was that Fielding and
Blanche Wilmerding were betrothed
During the ensuing talk It was agreed
between them and the banker that the
event should be celebrated by Porter
taking q vacation the day following
and spending It alone with Blanche In
tue back seat OF Mr.. Wilmerding's
largest touring car. sssS
We'll drive all morning" Blanche
planned excitedly, land for lunch we'll
go to one of those rather risque inns,
and we'll lunch all alone and create q
terrible scandal"
NO, we won't" Fielding protested.
because nobody will know about Il.
positively refuse to lunch where
there will be any one to see U.S."
The happy party Of three said good
night, IN fact they said It several
times In the library. and then. with
q prelnaturely wlfely spirit, Blanche
went to the front door for fear, as she
explained It, that Fielding would not
put on his overcoat and hat before
going out into the cold night air.
The door once closed behind him,
Fielding lighted q cigar, and with his
shoulders back, his head held high,
he started with q long swinging gait
down the avenue In the direction Of
his home. Good fortune had indeed
been his. In less than six months
time It seemed a. II every one Of his
ambitions and hts hopes had been
realized. The future lay before him
as fair and 90 uaruf4ed A q well OF
crystal water. Health, the best OF al
natures gifts. had been HE from
childhood; to this had been added
secure and honorable position: and
now through his marriage to Blanche
Wilmerding, his last fear OF need or
any lack Of thi worlds goods would
vanish forever.
He looked up at the silver stars
shining c0ldly down on him from the
unbroken stretch of purple sky and
thanked HE God that he had iivcsi
cleanly, and, to himself, made silent
oath that he would live worthily of
her love always. And then, at the
thought of her love for him, there
was sudden tightening Of the
muscles In his throat and he felt the
hot blood rush to his face. Because
A
with It every desire Of his most am
bilious dreams. and he knew only too
we'll that the one thing which he
ought to give her In return for all
this was his love, and that he could
not give.
To the full Fielding appreciated the
girls undoubted charm, her wonder
ful sweetness, and her frail exquisite
beauty. but he did not love her--not
as he wanted to love her, not as he
had prayed and would pray again
that he might love her. That she
could or ever would discover his Sc
lcrct did not for one moment occur
to him ~ = remote possibility. He
was quite sure that he would prove
himself the best Of husbands better
perhaps than many Of the men whom
no knew, and who, years after mar
rage, still loved their wives with all
tho tenderness and passion Of the
early days of their courtship.
II was not that at the moment
Fielding loved any one else, but he
knew well enough what real love was
the kind OF love which he should
have brought to . woman 20 flne and
junselfish as blanche Wilmerding. Per.
hsps Il was TO Fay Clayton more than
| to any other woman that he owed his
understanding Of real love-. His de-
sire of the old days to protect and
guard her had been instilled into him
Through years OF devoted companion
ship. and yet In spite Of his brother!y
attitude there had been moments
when her wonderful animal beauty
l.. - (~n avxA tSA