El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-02-12

I said, There's little bit OF mending
! I'd like you to do for me tonight. Sup
! pose we leave Jane to talk to Gus for
while. and you attend to that for
| me. Wen be out in about a half
hour" he informed his guest.
That's all right-taISe your own
time" Augustus said. Jane and I'll
get along all right by ourselves.
guess"
Mrs. Hardy said nothing. and in the
moonlight the girl fancied that her
mothers gentle face grew a shade
paler.
Jane rose as her parents stood up
When they had gone, she sat down
again.
She remained silent as Augustus
Reeves began his speech, first getting
up and closing the door that led out
upon the veranda.
when I have anything to say, 7 like
to know that there isn't anybody lis
tening," he explained.
She had an impulse to resent his
words to tell him that her people could
not sink to the ignominy Of caves
drOpping-but as she recalled what her
father had said to her only a little
while ago, she felt that she did not
know what he might stoOp to. She
had never loved her father as she loved
her mOther-but she had been fond of
him. Had she never known him until
now
She brought her thoughts and atten-
ton back to what Augustus Reeves
was saying. It was, at first, just what
he had told her often before He stood
high IN the community, he informed
her; he had a fine farm. a good in
come. and was making money from
several excellent investments. But he
was lonely.
Her heart gaze a siclSening throb
If she only dared to run away-dared
to scream-dared tell him to stop,
It's many years now since my wife
died" he remarked. and ] feel very
much the need Of a wife. You would
suit me in many ways, Jane. VIII you
marry me?"
He leaned towards her and took her
hand in his. She snatched it away.
His touch made her shudder.
'1-l-can't. she gasped- I don't
love you"
He smiled as he might have smiled
at an ignorant child.
81 don't expect that you do love
me yet" Jane" he rejoined. But you
will soon. ] don't think that I would
care especially for any young woman
who would say that she loved a man
until she was quite sure that he wanted
her. ! do want you, and I believe
you'll suit me very well. You have
faults, of course-but who hasn't. And
1 III sure lndL Wueu you see now well
I can provide for you, when you change
from this house to my big one, when
YOU see how nice everything is there
you'll be glad you took the step
glad and thankful. ] know you've got !
quite Il lot to learn. but Mary-that is !
Mrs. Baird. my hOusekeeper-wiu teach !
you"
The world SWAN around his listener.
He talked as if he had settled every |
thing in spite of her. Could it be that /
he had dared speak in this way Of her !
to her father? Was she not to be I
considered in this matter-was her
life to be arranged for her, and was /
she to be disposed of. or purchased. as
if she were a horse or some other dumb /
that this mad had decided to /
own?
She thought Of Edward Sanderson. B
He Wes her refuge-yet her tongue re-
fused to speak Of him to this man.
She could not name her loYe-the most
beautiful thing in her life-in this
gross presence. But she must saw
mething-something to let him know
that she could not listen to anything
else he had to say-that she could
never never marry him.
"You-you-don't understand" she
stammered. 'I-I-could not marry /
any one I did not love. And-besIdes
it's impossible, Mr..
Reeves-quite impOssible"
She sprang to her feet as he tried
again to seize her hand, and, eluding
him. without a backward glance Teni
swiftly into the house and up to her
room.
(To Be Continued.)