The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-04-01
head, Freddy, dear?' she asked

| ShreWuly.
His eyes wavered. Il can't 90 on
living as | have been for the past few
months. I've just got to end II, Lyddy.
You don't understand-you can't. and
there isn't any use in trying to explain
| the"
81 think I do understand, dear" she
said quietly. laying her hand on his
II understand so completely that there
isn't any use in your trying to explain
But don't you think you are a bit COW.
ardly?"
"Cowardly?" he gasped, and then
the blood rushed to his face
rs ii quite fair to me-or to your.
self?" He was silent She waited for
a moment and then went on reso-
lutely. Il know Just what 1t Is that
you are afraid Of Freddy ] shall
marry you. of course. | love you more
| than anything else in all the world
But are you quite fair in asking me
to marry you while you are still afraid.
dear"
Before God, I love no one else ou,
YOU" he cried. earnestly. Il know
| what il is you are thinking and II
| don't blame you. But ! want you now
| good God, you don't know how much
| | need you now | want to begin
new life with you. want to feel
that you are with me-just you
strong and brave and enduring. ] am
| adrift. | need you"
III you insist, | will marry you to-
morrow but you cannot-you will not
| ask ii of me, will you?"
But you know | love you" he cried.
There isn't any doubt in your mind,
Lyddy. There is no one else, | tell
you"
Il think | am just beginning to un-
derstand men" she remarked enig-
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 Il don't
believe there are many women who
would ask man to be sorry for them.
That's really what all this amounts
to, isn't it, Freddy"
by jove," he eXclp pimed, wonder
ingly,
You are strong self-willed, chiv'
alrous man, and yet you think nothing
Of asking 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 fioun-
dering in the darkness, uncertain
which way to turn. You were afraid
OF the things YOU could not see. You
looked for some place in which to hide.
The flash 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 frank ac-
Snowledgement growing in his eyes.
Are you ashamed OF me. Lyddy?"
he asked II was confession.
No" she said, meeting his gaze
steadily. Il am little disappointed,
that's all II is YOU who are ashamed"
Il 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 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. | could
He clasped her in his arms and held
her close You dear, dear Lyddy!"
Neither spoke for many minutes. 1t
was she who broke the silence.
You must promise one thing, Fred
eric For my sake, avoid a quarrel
with your father could not bear
that. You will promise, dear? You
must"
His jaw was set Il don't intend to
QAGAAt " AAA AAA.l4. NAA IL an a. *
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-neHt
fall"
oh. II it really distressos you,
Lyddy, III"
1t does distress me. want your
promise"
I'm DO mys 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 siiftiy. as one
who suddenly suspects that he is be
ing sp!ed upon. The significance ot
the movement did not escape Lydia
She lsughed mirthleSsly.
Il will see who it iS," she said. and
arose Two red spots appeared in his
cheeks Then IL was that she realized
ha Nes hss- Waiting al s10-r for The