The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1917-01-11
CHAPTER XVI.-(Continued)

thar you have asked. From the first
minute my eyes rested upon your face
Ynder that mist of white veil wished
with all my heart that / might have
known you before any other man had
found and won you. When you turned
and looked at me with that deep sorrow
N your eyes, you pledged me with every
fiber of my being TO fight for you.
was yours from that instant. And When
xour little hand was laid in mine my
neart went out in longing to have IT
stay in mine forever. l knew now, as l
did not understand then, that the real
reason for my doing something to max
known my identity at that instant was
not because / was afraid Of any OF the
things that might happen, or any scene
l 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 or
heaven and earth, if your heart will but
say yes. | love you, as l never knew a
man could love, and yet if you do not
want to stay with me j will set you
free; but it is true that should never
be the same, Cor | am married 10 you
in my heart, and always shall be. par
ling look up and answer my question:
now" .
He stood before her with outstretched
arms. and for answer she rose and came
TO him slowly, with downcast eyes.
81 do not want to be set free she
said. ~ ,,s
Then gently, tenderly, he folded ms
arms about her, as if she were too prec-
ious RI handle roughly, and laid his lips
upon hers. y,
II was the shrill, insistent clang OF
Tho bell that broke III upon
their bliss. For a m Gorooh iet !.
ring but it's merciless clatter was hot
TO be denied; so, drawing Cela W4thti
his arm, he made her come WITH hiii "
the phone ,o,+y yoico
of Miss BENTLEY answered him from the
little black distance Of the phone g.,
His arm was about Celia, ana h felt
his whole body stiffen with
"Oh, Miss Bentley. Good morning!
Your message? Why no. An "eh' 1
have Just come H.
A nause during which Celia, panic
stricken, handed him the paper Oh
which she had written Julia's message
"Ahl Oh. yes, | have the message.
Yes. it is very kind OF you,
he murmured stiffly, but you VIII
have to excuse me-. NO reaiis. ~
is utterly impossible! nave
another engagement-' his arm
stole closer around Celia's waist ana
caught her hand, holding 1t with Il
meaningful pressure. He smlied, WIN
a grimace toward the telephone winch
gladdened her heart. pardon me, 1
didn't hear that" he went on. :,
come? " = " Not possibly" His voice
rang with a glad, decided force, ana
he held still closer the soft fingers IN
his hand. q = Il well. I'm sorry you
feel that way about it. / certainly am
not trying to be disagreeable. no l
could not come tomorrow nlgnt either
= | cannot make any plans for the
1900 49,. Ia,r- u y - NAV nave 10
leave town again, " y = 1t is quite
possible l may have to return to New
York. Yes, business has been very
pressing. ] hope you VIII excuse me:
/ am sorry to ~disappoint you. NO, Oh
course / didn't do it on purpose i
shall have some pleasant news 10 ten
YOU when ] see you again-or- win
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 Cella S
cheeks. She understood what he
meant and nestled closer TO him.
mo, no., ! could not tell it over the
phone. No, ii will Keep. doou thlhss
will always keep If they are well cared
for. YOU know. No, really ! can't. Ana
| I'm very sorry to disappoint you to-
night, but it can't be helped. '
| 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 ia friend-l suppose
YOU would call her. She has been a X
| ing possession of my time lately rather
| more than l really enjoyed. stu, she
is a nice girl. You'll like her, think;
| but | hope you'n never get too init
x.,. phnii11n't like tD have her
| continually around. She" he paused
| and finished, laughing-'she makes me
| tired"
Il was afraid, from her tone when
( she 'phoned you, that she was a very
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. Il couldn't care
for her. / never did. | tried to con-
slider her in that light one day, be-
cause I'd been told repeatedly that
ought to settle down, but the though
Of having her with me always was
well-intolerable. The fact is, you
reign supreme in a heart that has
never loved another. girl. i didn't know
there was such Il thing as love like
this. ] knew i lacked something, but
didn't know what II was. Thls Il
greater than all the gifts of life, this
l gift or your lONe. Anu lldl IL SlloulI
come to me in this beautiful, unsoughI
way seems too good to be true!"
He drew her TO him once more ant
looked down into her lovely face, as
if he could not drink enough of it:
sweetness.
And to think you are willin. TO b'
my wife. My wife, and he foldeo
her close again.
A Discreet tap on the door announced
the arrival of the man Henry, anC
Gordon reused 60 the necessity of or
dering lunch.
lie stepped to the door with a .happ.
smile and held it open.
Come in Il minute, Henry" he said
This is my wife. / hope you viii
henceforth take her wishes as you
special charge, and do for her as yol
have lone so faithfully for me-
The mans eyes shone with pleasur
as he bowed low before the gentle lady
Il is very glad to heah il, sab, and
offers you my CONGRATULATIONS, sal
and de lady, too. She can't find n
bettah man in the whole United State
dan Mars Gordon. Is mighty gla
1".A