Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1914-01-29
W|HEPE THERE'S ANVIL
81 MApY ROBERTS pINEHART
ono CIRCULAR STAIRCASE. gle MAN
k9W MTEB TIN Flax W RHilT q s,f mAN r1AR
GQeNoIoAY Nela 81 sss sssS CO.

I'm going to say it again, anyhow.
love you. Patty. I'm-Tm mad for
you. I've loved you hopelessly for so
long that tonight. when there's a ray
of hope, Im-I'm hardly sane. T."
Pleased" she said
Il love you so much that | waken
at night just to say your name, over
and over. and when dawn comes
through the windows"
You don't know what you are say.
ing!" she said wildly. 81 am-still--'
Il welcome the daylight" he went
on. talking very fast. because 1t
means another day when ! can see
you II it sounds foolish, it's--it's
really lots worse than it sounds.
Patty"
The door opened Just then. and
Doctor Barnes voice spoke from the
step.
81 say" he complained. you
needn't"
Get out!" Mr.. Pierce said angrily,
and the door slammed. The seconds
interruption gave him time, | think.
TO see how far he'd gone, and his
voice, when he spoke again, was not
so. hopeful
I'm not pleading my cause" he
said humbly, Il know | haven't any
cause | have nothing to offer you"
you said this afternoon" Miss
Patty said softly, that you could Of
fer me the--the kind OF love that a
woman could be proud Of"
She finished off with a sort of gasp,
as IL she was shocked at herself.
They were standing facing each
other, he all flushed and eager and
my dear Miss Patty pale and trembly
But she wasn't shy. She was looking
straight into his eyes and her blessed
lips were quivering.
'How can you carer" she asked
when he only stood and looked at
her. I've been such a--such self,
ish beast!"
"Hush!" He leaned toward her. and
held my BREATH You are every,
thing that is best in the world, and
I-what can offer you? / have moth,
ing. not even this sanatorium! No
money, no title"
"oh, that" she interrupted. and
stood waiting well, you-you could
at beast offer YOURSELF"
Patty"
She went right over to him and
put her hands on his shoulders.
And If you won't" she said. 'I'll
offer myself instead"
His arms went around her like a
fash at that, and he kissed her.
Then. without releasing her, he
raised his head, with such a look OF
victory in his face that | still see IT
sometimes in my sleep, and his eye
caught mine through the crack.
But If Id looked to see him drop
her ! was mistaken. He drew her
up and kissed her again, but this time
on the forehead. And when he'd let
her 60 and she had dropped into a
chair and hid her shining face against
the back. as II she was ashamed,
which she might well be. he stood
laughing over her bent head at me.
Come out. Minnie!" he called.
Come out and hear the good news!"
Heart" said, I've seen all the
news | want"
'Gracious!" Miss Patty said. and
buried her head again. But he had
reached the shameless stage; a man
who is really in love always seems to
get to that point sooner or later He
stopped and kissed the back of her
neck, and If his hand shook when he
pushed in one of her shell hairpins II
was excitement and not fright.
Il hardly realize 1t, Minnie" he
said. Il don't deserve her for a min.
ute.
Certainly not" | said.
"He does" Miss Patty's voice
smothered. Then she got up and
came over to me.
There is going to be an awful fuss