Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1917-01-11
CHAPTER XvI.-(Continued)

IIueT lnat mist OF Wnlte Veil L WlSneC
with all my heart that / might lave
known you before any other man had
found and won you. When o turned
and looked at me with that deep sorrow
n your eyes, o pledged me with every
fiber of my being to fight for you.
was yours from that instant. And when
Jour little hand was laid in mine, my
heart went out in longing to have it
stay in mine forever. 1 kncw now, as
did not understand then, that the real
reason for my doing something to max
| known my identity at that instant was
not because L was afraid of any of the
things that might happen, or any scene
] might make, but because my heart
was fighting for the right to keep what
had been given me out of the unknown.
You are my wife. by every law of
heaven and earth, if your heart will but
| say yes. ! love you, as l never knew a
mar could love, and yet If you do not
want to stay with me will set you
free; but it is true that | should never
be the same, Cor I am married to you
in my heart, and always shall be. Oar
ling look up and answer my question
now
He stood before her with outstretched
arms, and for answer she rose ana came
to him slowly, with eyes.
II do not want to be set free, she
said.
Then gently, tenderly. he folded his
+ arms about her, as If she We're too prec-
ious to handle roughly, and laid his lips
upon hers.
1t was the shrill, insistent clang OF
the telephone bell nat broke M upo, ~
their bliss. For a moment Gordon let IL
ring. but it's merciless clatter was not
to be denied; so, drawing Celia within
his ann, he made her come with him 10
the phone
To his annoyance, the haughty voice
of Miss Bentley answered MN from 'he
little black distance of the phone.
His arm was about Celia, and h felt
I his whole body stiffen with formality.
"Oh, Miss Bentley! God rnln
Your message? Why no! All! WE'LL
have just come i'll
A pause during which Celia, panic
stricken, handed him the paper on
which she had written Julia's message.
"Ah! Oh, yes, l have the message.
Yes. 1t is very kin of you
he murmurad stiffly. but you will
have to excuse me No. really. 1t
is utterly impossible! have
another engagement ms arm
stole closer around Celia's waist and
caught her hand, holding it With a
meaningful pressure. He smiled, with
a grimace toward the telephone which
gladdened her heart. Pardon me-. l
didn't hear that" he went on. Vt y y
"oh, give up my engagemen ana am
/ GONE . y" l\Ol DoSSlplS Lib WV
rang with a glad, decided force. and
ne cid still closer the soft fingers in
| his hand. = a " We'll, I'm sorry you
feel that way about it. i certainly am
not trying to be disagreeable. No, L
could not come tomorrow night either.
= = l cannot make N plans for the
next few days. y q q l may have to
leave town again. = = I" 1t is quite
possible l may have to return to New
York. Yes, business has been very
pressing. l hope you will excuse me.
l am sorry to ~disappoint you. NO, of
course l didn't do it ON purpose. |
shall have some pleasant news to tell
a glance of deep love at Celia, per-
haps l shall find means to let you
know of it before | see YOU
The color came and went in Celia's
cheeks. She understood what he
meant n nestled closer to i m
mo, no, l could not tell it over the
phone. No. it will keep. Good things
will always keep If they are we'll cared
for, you know. No, really l can't. And
I'm very sorry to %disappoint you to-
night, bu it can't be helped. y y
Goodby."
He hung up the receiver with a sigh
of relief.
Who is Miss Bentley?' asked Celia,
with natural interest. She was pleased
that he had not addressed he as Jul
liza"
why, she is-a friend-I suppose
you would call her. h has been ak
ing possession Of my time lately rather
more thar l really enjoyed. Still, she
is a nice girl. You'll like her, | think;
but l hope you'n never get too inti-
mate. l shouldn't like to have her
continually around. She" he paused
and finished, laughing-'she makes me
tired"
Il was afraid, from her tone when
she phone you. that she vas a Very
I dear friend-that she might be some
one you cared for. There was a sort
Of proprietorship in her tone"
Yes. that's the very word. proprie-
torship." he laughed; y couldn't care
slider her in that light one day, be-
cause I'd been told repeatedly hat
ought to settle down. but the thought
Of having her with me always was
well-intolerable. The fact is. you
reign supreme in a heart that has
never loved another girl. DIDN'T know
there was such a thing as love like
this. | knew l lacked something. but
didn't know what it was. This is
+ greater than all the gifts of life. this
Gift OF your owe And hat it should
come to me in this beautiful, unsought
way seems too good to h, trne!"
He drew her to him once more and
( SOANC NOWh ~ 49, NNSSt -
il he could not drink enough Of its
sweetness.
And to think you are willing to be
my wife! My wife!' and he folded
her close again.
A discreet tap on the door announced
the arrival of the mar Henry, and
Gordon reused 60 the necessity Of or
dering lunch.
He stepped to the door with a happy
smile and held it open.
Come In asIninute, Henry he said.
This Is my wife. I hope you will
henceforth take her wishes as Your
special charge. and do for her as YOU
have one SO faithfully for me-"
The mans eyes o with pleasure
as he bowed low before the gentle lady.
II Isl very glad to heah it, sab, and
offers you my congratcllumlations. sab,
and dc lady, too She can't find no
bettah man In the whole United States
dan Mars Gordon. rs mighty glad
you done got mated, sab. an l hopes
you bot have q mighty fine life
The luncheon was served in Henry's
best style. and his dark face shone as
he stepped natselessly about, putting
EE&<&.sfNES& |1F 49, FH4Na E4@gSN N4tTHElaFEN