The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-11-11

it, JarvisT she slowly asked at length.
sit is for you to decide, Cleo" he
answered miserably. My happiness,
my future, is in your hands"
81 must have time to think" she
said. "Come to me this afternoon.
=. will give you my decision then"
Though racked by emotion, she Kept
herself, by a supreme effort of the will,
under admirable control. 1t was not,
indeed, until she had reached her
room and boIted the door behind her
that she threw herself upon the bed
and gave way to torrent of tears.
Late that afternoon Hope came to
her for his answer. Though her eyes
were swollen from weeping, she was
calmer, more dignified, than he had
ever seen her. In the space of a few
hours she seemed to have changed
from a child to a woman. She had
donned the same black gown that she
had worn at her fathers funeral, its
sOmberness accentuating the glory of
her hair and the milky WhiteneSS OF
her complexion. Hope thought that
he had never known one SO lovely, so
frail and so appealing.
Jarvis" she began, 81 have spent
the whole day trying to decide what
is the right thing for US to do. You
are, as this Miss Machin says in her
letter, q gentleman and in such
a case a gentleman has no alternative
4. Jarvis, you must marry her.
But I am going to marry you,"
cried Hope.
''No. dear" said Cleo firmly, though
her lips Quivered, you are not going
to marry me :. much as love you,
1 could never be happy as your wife
knowing that another woman had a
claim on you . and now, dearest,
you must go =. I can't stand it any
longer my heart is breaking"
81 won't co." Hope fairly shouted.
81 don't love that woman and 1 won't
marry her. She has no claim on me
1 never harmed a hair of her
head. I'm going to stay here and
marry you, my darling"
Listen to me, Jarvis, DEAR" said
Cleo, putting her hands on his Shout
ders and raising her tear-flled eyes to
his. do you really love me?"
do l love yOu?' he groaned. ST
love you so much that life without you
is not worth living"
'And you wish to please me?"
''Of course" he answered simply.
''Then you will marry Miss Machin, %
said Cleo. Cant you see, dear, that
though it breaks my heart to give you
up L can always feel that we were
| strong enough to do what was honor
able and right? 1t is because 1 love
you so much, Jarvis, that l ask this
of you"
"May-may I kiss you good-by, my
darling?" asked Hope brokenly.
Her answer was to throw herself
into his arms. For long minute
their lips chung together, their hearts
throbbed in unison; then she struggled
free.
Then turning he CROPPED his way to
the door. AS it closed behind him Cleo
stood for moment, swaying like a
lily in the wind, and then, her strength
suddenly DESERVING her, crumpled to
the floor, unconscious.
The next morning Hope, very white
and shaken, sent for Hook, showed
him the letter from Inez Machin, and
told him OF CIeo's decision.
"Shucks," said the old seaman, after
he heard the story, there amt no
more call for you to marry that gal,
lootenant, than there is fer me to.
too, she amt caught you with the
goods. She's just trying to put one
over on you, IoOtenant.'
That's the way it looks to me,
Hook, but Cleo won't see it that way.
She insists that the only honorable
thing for me to do under the circum-
stances is to marry Miss Machin. I've
tried to argue with her, but she's ada
mainline"
"Just you wait till I've had a talk
with her." said Hook, rising. 'Don't
you do nothing foolish, Iootenant, IN.
| til I get back. I'll soon talk those
story-book notions outen her head
Don't you worry :. I'll fix things VI
all right"
Il hope to heaven you'll be success
full" said Hope, fervently. If yoJ
are I'll never forget it"
Two hours later Hook returned. OnG
look at his face showed Hope that ht
had met with no success.
'Pm much obliged to you, Hook,
said Hope, YEARLY, 'but I knew i
would be useless. When Cleo one
makes up her mind there's no use il
trying to change it. You viii look afte
her, Hook, won't you?'
"You bet viii, lootenant." said tn
sailor, hopping his eyes with a vivit
bandana. 'Tm a pretty tough oil
salt, but I'll do my best to be fathe
to her.
"And Hook" said Hope, with trac
OF embarrassment, IF you-if she
should ever need any money you won
hesitate to let me know, will you?
: haven't much besides my pay, bu
whatever have, it's Cleo's and your
for the asking. 1 can go away wit
an easier mind If I can have you