Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-06-26
n CHAPTER XIII, (continued).
How dare you say love your
un>&., ~, .,r. ~ ~ ho answer

now Odre you say ioFe you
Because I'm sure of It," he answer
ed happily.
'You-you presume Mr.. Hedge!"
II do not presume-and my name il
Henry. Sometimes used to be callei
Z Harry. he added little wistfully
Honestly. Connie. think you love
me-
4 "You think It? You said before"
He. made a gesture of despair ant
laughed.
THAT just shows you how mixed E
man gets when he's in love. But an
sure Of IT, And you'll only stop te
consider"
Constance Brooke had received pro
! posals, but never one that carried with
It such brazen assurance. She knew
that she ought TO put H. Hedge arlgh'
without delay-but she waited.
II can't give any reason for believ
ing 60. admit" he continued rather
lamely. "But just feel it in my bones
II Just feel-oh, l guess it's a hunch
Connie
He slid down from the table and
stood in front Of her; his hands out
stretched. rs he had the evening be-
fore But this time she did not laugh
at him. She felt serious and disquiet'
ed It was like having an utter
stranger lay his heart in her hands
for there was no doubt that the ell
cheney man had vanished. AS for the
stranger, why
'If you don't love me, I think You
ought to deny it, he suggested with
meekness.
Constance was confused. This
stranger had no right to make such a
demand. Such things weren't done
that was all. 1t was not fair to put 1t
that way.
please excuse me-" she said. e.
think I'll go upstairs. Mr.. Hedge
Henry
| "Mr. Hedge"
Harry.
81 thought you'd stopped giving or
der. resigned you know
Il didn't mean it for an order" he
said apologetically But wish you'd
stop calling me Mr.. Hedge It's got
to be done. sooner or later
She sank back in her chair and
shook her head helplessly. 1t did not
appear that H. Hedge had cast aside
any Of his persistency.
And I'm waiting for you to deny
It," he added. only don't-please!"
81 deny"
"stop!"
She stopped. and was annoyed when
she became aware OF it.
~ deny"
He reached over and placed his
hand across her lips.
Don't, dear" he pleaded.
She pushed the hand waya, but did
not finish the sentence. Instead. she
rose from the chair and started
toward the hallway. Then she chang
ed her course, for no conscious reason
and went over to one of the windows
where she stood with her back to~sre
him. H. Hedge followed.
II guess I've bungled it pretty bad
w." she heard him saying I'm nc
good at 1t. II only knew how. I'd make
YOU the most wonderful proposal in
the world. You're entitled to 1t. But 1t
seems don't know how"
"Yet you told me-"
She paused and bit her lip
told you what?"
Never mind
"Tell me-
"Why. once you told me that you'd
been engaged twice"
did I? I'd forgotten it."
IT you forget things like that SO
easily, l."
She stopped again knowing exactly
what she wanted to say She had not
turned her head but knew he was
standing behind her, very close. She
wanted to see his face but dared not
look; she wanted to know the precise
expression in his eyes
well | have forgotten just how
proposed to them he said truthfully
IT know never mean it, anyhow"
"You say things like that-and don't
mean them"
There / 90 again" he declared in a
tone OF despair. oh, please help me
out, Connie! Honest 1njun. don't
seem to be able to talk straight.
can keep on saying love you, over
and over again; but cant get beyond
that. somehow or other. | suppose il
sounds monotonous."
Mon otonous."
The foundering uncertainty went
out Of his eyes and he beamed at the
back of her head. He took her gently
By he shoulders and turned hel
around.
Lets quit fooling." he said.
$3.50 you've been fooling, then
she murmured Then l.
The rest OF the sentence was
smothered as H. Hedge stood there
with Constance in his arms. his heart
rounding a hundred beats to the min
NE. He did not, dare speak. Constance
did not try; it was too-amazing.
After several minutes, he venture6
a pleading appeal.
II don't know whether ! can tall
straight yet" he said. Il suppose In
due for another bungle But I've kiss
ed the top of your head so often thai
l just wondered if you'd let me"
She lifted her head-and let him.
y Il don't think | do. either-after Tho
way you treated me- she answered
family. IL think I must be crazy.
"Why?"
'For loving you
"Connie!" He held her off at arm:
length. "Honestly-do you?"
She looked at him in amazement.
H. Hedge, you are insufferable," she