Atlanta Georgian., 1914-03-01

never bought them for herself AREN'T
they beautiful" he ventured
She rose, and going over to the flowers
smelled them, hiding her burning face in
their cool, velvety petals. eyes, aren't
they? Mr.. Ransome sent them to me-"
" Mr. Ransome?" His voice, usually SO
low and we'll modulated, rose with his sud
den irritation. who's Mr.. Ransome?"
Emmy saw that the time had come to
speak. Grant, she said, "you must not
be angry because of what IN going to tell
you. Mr.. Ransome is the-the man I'm
going to marry
Chanler started up with a cry. "To
marry Emmy! What-what do you
mean?"
" Just that, Grant You know II did
not promise to marry you. have promised
to marry him."
But" he looked at her, bewildered,
"why-why?"
She glanced down at the roses How
could she tell him that? He came up to her
and grasped her wrist. "Why are you
going to marry this man2 You said you
loved me-"
lido dol"
Then why don't you marry me9"
Grant, II could never make you
happy-you have your work-you have a
hard enough time to get along as it is.
couldn't be an added burden to you've
should be happy for a few months year
or two-and then-poverty would take all
the enthusiasm out of you-all the happiness
out of me-we'd end by hating each other"
He gazed at her, curiously intent "Is-
is this man rich?" he inquired.
yes" Her voice was so low he could
scarcely hear it.
And you don't love him?"
"Oh, no, no, mol" The words tumbled
from her quivering lips. He saw her moist
en- them with the tip Of her tongue Il
don't love any but you She threw out her
arms to him, twining them about his neck.
And still you are going to marry him?"
he asked, his voice stern menacing.
Eyes. Oh, Grant, don't look at me like
that. Grant" She clung to him wildly,
lifting her face to his.
He pushed her from him. "Then get
away from me, he muttered.
She resisted him, clinging to his arms.
"Oh, don't-don't, Grant! Kiss me
you know how love you-how Twant YOU"
Love mel" he cried, bewildered ''And
you are going to marry some one else?
Good God, Emmy, what do you mean?
You must not let this man come between us.
You've got to marry me.
~ can't. Oh, Grant, don't you see?
He can give me everything l want, and
I've promised. But that doesn't make me
love you any the less"
He trembled now. With her eyes, her
lips her bare throat, her whole body, she
appealed to him. He caught his breath
and looked at her, hungrily.
Emmy" he cried, Emmy, you don't
mean to do this thing you cant?"
81 must. I've promised him. We're
going to be married in September. I'm
going to sell myself to a rich old man just
for his money. suppose you will despise
me, but | can't help it. I've got to do it.
I'm in debt, and II never could be
happy without money"
The poor old fool" Chanler flung at her,
bitterly.
She flushed at his tone. after I marry
him III stand by my bargain, but now
now, oh, Grant, Grant, she clung to him
eagerly, want you--you!"
Chanler stood looking down at her, like
a man dreaming. The cold -bloodedness of
her intention chilled him. She did not see
the hardening lines in his face, and, with her
arms about him, held him close
You mean, he said slowly, that you
are willing to give yourself to me-now-
until you are married."
She raised her face to his, her cheeks
flushed, her eyes closed, not daring to speak
Ito look at him, and awaited his kisses.
He threw her off. Good God!" he
muttered, and strobe over to the window.