Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-03-27

and he was the stronger; in the ma
tural course Of things his will could
not but prevail.
The last trace Of evening light had
faded out Of the world before they
were agreed. Darkness wrapped them
in its folds they were but as voices
warning in q black and boundless void.
Whitaker struck a match and APP
piled it to the solitary gas-jet. A thin,
blue, suffering tongue Of flame re-
vealed them to one another. The girl
still crouched in her armchair. weary
and spent, her powers Of contention
all vitiated By the losing struggle.
Whitaker was trembling with nervous
fatigue.
"WeIl" he demanded.
''Oh. have your own way" she said
drearily. "If 1t must be :"
'It's for the best" he insisted OBJ
stinately. "You'll never regret it"
"One of3us Whether you or /"
She said quietly. ITS too one-sided.
You want to give ali and ask nothing
In return. It's a FOOLS bargain"
He hesitated. stammering with sur
prise. She had a habit of saying tho
unexpected. "A FOOLS bargain"-the
wisdom Of the sage from the lips Of =
'Then it's settled" he said. business
like, offering his hand. Fools bar
gain Tor motifs . bargain"
She rose unassisted, then trusted her
slender fingers to his palm. She said
nothing. The steady gaze Of her ex.
~traordinary eyes abashed him.
They left the hotel together. Whit
aker got his change Of . hundred dol
lars at the desk-"Mrs. Norten's" bill,
Of course, included with his-and
brtbed the bell-boy to take the suit
case to the railway station and leave
1t there, together with his own hand
bag. Since he had unaccountably con-
ceived q determination to continue liv.
ing for q time, he meant to seek out
more pleasant accommodations for the
night
The rain had ceased. leaving a
ragged sky Of clouds and stars in
patches. The air a arm and heavy
with wetness. Sidewalks glistened like
black watered silk /; street lights mir
rored Themselves in fugitive puddles
in the roadways; limbs of trees over
hanging the sidewalks shivered now
and again In a half.hearted breeze,
pelting the w~ayfarers with miniature
showers Of lukewarm, scented drops.
Whitaker, taking his heart and his
fate in his hands, accosted . venerable
gentleman whom they encountered as
he was on the point Of turning OF the
sidewalk to private grounds.
II beg your pardon" he began.
The man paused and turned upon
them a sanity ~countsnance framed In
hair like snow.
'sThere 10 something I can do for
your" he inquired with punctilious
courtesy.
"If youswtl be kind enough to d.
rect me to . minister . . ="
= am one"
II thought 70" said Whitaker. I'VE
wish to get married."
The gentleman looked from his. face
to the girls, then moved aside from
the gate. ."This Is my home" he ex-
planned. "Will you be good enough
to come int"
Conducting them to his private
study, he subjected them to q kindly
catechism. The girl said little, Whit
aker taking upon himself the brunt Of
the examination. Absolutely straight-
forward and intensely sincere, he came
through the ordeal well, without being
obliged to disclose what he preferred
to keep secret. The minister, salts
Ned, at length called in the town clerk
by telephone; who issued the license,
pocketed his fee, and in company with
the minister's wife, acted as Wit
ness.
Whitaker found himself on his feet
beside Mary Ladislas. They were be-
Ing married. He seemed to hear the
droning Of the loom Of the Fates.> /.
And they were man and wife. The
door had closed, the gate-latch clicked
behind them. They were walking
quietly side w side throughSHhespcent-
Mxht they whom God nd Joined
TeANnTxE~EtIrlF5 EE2E