The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1915-10-29

morrow, but you cannot-you will moi
ask 1t of me, will your"
But you know l love you," he cried
Inere isn't any doubt In your mind
Lyddy. There is no one else, l tell
you"
1 think I 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. 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 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 II
OF me, Freddy dear, you were 1oun,
derlng 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,
dlctment she had held his hand
clasped tightly in both of hers. He
was looking at her with a frank ac-
acknowledgement growing in his eyes.
Are you ashamed Of me, Lyddy?
he asked. 1t was confession.
NO." she said, meeting his gaze
steadily. q am little disappointed,
that's all. 1t is you who are ashamed"
i am" said he, simply. 1T wasn't
fair"
Love will endure. l 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 l 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. l 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. 'T don't intend to
quarrel with him, but if l 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, Tll-"
at does distress me. l 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 sttff1y, as one
who suddenly suspects that he is be-
ing spied upon. The significance of
the movement did not escape Lydia.
She laughed mirthlessly.
Il 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.
IF it's for me, please say-er-say
I'll" 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 concert or
recital"
Eyes, TIL 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:
eyes, Mrs. Brood, will call him to
the phone"
cHApTEP YIN