The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1915-05-29

morrow, but you cannot-you will not
ask it of me. will you?"
But you know l love you,' he cried.
There isn't any doubt in your mind,
Lyddy. There is no one else, I tell
you
Il think am just beginning to IN
derstand men," she remarked eng
matically.
He looked up sharply And to won
der why they call women the weaker
sex, eh?"
Yes" she said so seriously that the
wry smile died on his lips. 81 don't
believe there are many women who
would ask a man to be sorry for them.
That's really what all this amounts
to, isn't it, Freddy"
by jove!" he exclaimed. wonder
ingly.
You are a strong, self-willed. chiv-
alrous man, and yet you think nothing
Of asking a woman to protect you
against yourself You are afraid to
stand alone. Wait. Five minutes
yes, one minute before you asked it
of me, Freddy dear, you were 1oun-
dering in the darkness, uncertain
which way to turn. You were afraid
of the things you cousd not see. You
looked for some place in which to hide.
The fash of light revealed a haven OF
refuge. So you asked me TOTO marry
you tomorrow" All through this in
dictment she had held his hand
clasped tightly in both of hers. He
was looking at her with a frank ac-
acknowledgements growing in his eyes.
Are you ashamed of me, Lyddy?"
he asked. 1t was confession.
NO" she said, meeting his gaze
steadily. Il am little disappointed,
that's all 1t is you who are ashamed"
81 am" said he, simply. 1T wasn't
fair
Love will endure am content to
wait" she said, with a wistful smile.
you will be my wife no matter
what happens? You won't let this
make any difference?''
You are not angry with me?"
Angry? Why should I be angry
with you, Lyddy? For shaking some
sense into me? For seeing through
me with that wonderful. far-sighted
brain of yours? Why, could go down
on my knees to you. 1 could"
He cIasped her in his arms and held
her close. You dear, dear Lyddy!"
Neither spoke for many minutes. It
was she who broke the silence
You must promise one thing, Fred
eric. For my sake, avoid a quarrel
with your father. l could not bear
that. You will promise, dear? You
must"
His jaw was set. 81 don't intend to
quarrel with him. but if 1 am to re-
main in his house there has got to
be-
Promise me you will wait He is
going away in a couple of weeks.
When he returns-later on-next
fall"
"oh, if it really distresses you.
Lyddy, III"
ct does distress me. I want your
promise"
I'll do my part" he said, resigned
ly. And next fall will see us mar
ried, So"
The telephone bell in the hall was
ringing. Frederic released Lydia's
hand and sat up rather stifly, as one
who suddenly suspects that he is be-
ing spied upon. The significance of
the movement did not escape Lydia.
She laughed mirthlessly.
ST will see who it is" she said, and
arose. Two red spots appeared in his
cheeks. Then it was that she realized
he had been waiting all along for the
bell to ring; he had been expecting a
summons.
eff it's for me, please say-er-say
III" he began, somewhat disjoint-
eddy, but she interrupted him.
''Will you stay here for luncheon,
Frederic? And this afternoon we will
go to Oh, is there a concert or a
recital"
Eyes, I'll stay if you'll let me-"
he said, wistfully. We'll find some
thing to do
She went to the telephone. He
heard the polite greetings, the polite
assurances that she had not taken
cold, two or three laughing rejoinders
to what must have been amusing com
ments on the storm and its effect on
timid creatures, and then:
Yes, Mrs. Brood, will call him tc
the phone"