The Lamar register., 1917-01-24
-s a.

turned from him haughtily.
He stepped forward, and again
grasped her arm. His voice shook
with Jealous anger: you shall have
nothing to do with himl He shall not
have you !"
Indeed May ask what right you
have to dictated"
"YOu love me, that is why" he flung
back at her. "You love me, Marie.
You can't deny it" His voice sank to
a deep, ardent, golden note that sent
II tremOr through her. you are mine
mine! You know 1t. Your arm
quivers-that look in your eyes! You
cannot hide your love, Marie-sweet-
heart !"
He sought to embrace her. But
again she wrenched herself free from
him. She could no longer feign hau-
teur. Her face was rosy with bushes;
her bosom heaved; her eyes, behind
their yelling lashes, glOweI with ten
der passion. Yet she kept her head
despite the Intoxicating ardor Of his
look. Unlike Oinna, she was not so
unsophisticated as he persisted in
thinking her.
"You take good deal for granted,
Mr.. Vandervyn," she attempted
mocklng tone. 81 am not yet your
sweetheart, nor am l so sure l shall
be-"
He came nearer to her, his eyes the
color of violets and sparkling with tiny
golden CLEANS. He held out his arms.
His voice was low and enticing:
Sweetheart-sweethea -
She swayed toward him, checked
herself In the act of yielding, and
eluded his grasp.
mol" she cried. you're bit too
sure. I've no mother, hulfbreed or
otherwise, to advise me, my dear Reg
gle. l must be my own chaperon.
You charge Captain Hardy with trying
to play me. Yet when he spoke to me
of his love he also spoke of marriage"
Vandervyn's eyes narrowed and as
quickly widened in their most child
like stare.
How can you, Marie?' he re-
preached. "You say that as If you
think have been trifiing with you all
these months, when you know as well
as I But Of course, II you do not
trust me. l have no show against him.
He is free. | am, as you know. tied
down by the uncertainty If my posi-
ton"
THAT is quite sad. is it not?' she
Knocked. 81 am rather more fOTtu-
nate. Whether or not there is any
uncertainty about my position. l am
not bound to anyone, nor am bound
TO bind myself to anyone"
'Why are you so hard to meT' he
pleaded. "You know that II my uncle
got even a hint that am interested in
a girl out here It would be all Off with
me. He doesn't know what you are
like, and 1t would be impossible in
writing to convince him how charming
you are"
what a MISFORTUNE Only, as 1t
happens, have no wish to marry SEN
ator Clemmer. He already has a
wife"
That's Just tia wife and half a
dozen daughters. It's all cut and dried
that I am to marry Ella, the oldest I'M
married one"
"Ah-sO that is why" faltered
Marie. the rich color ebblng from her
cheeks. But she was only momentum
lily overcome. Her spirit rallied al
most as soon as it dropped. at is
most kind Of you. Mr.. Vnndervyn. to
tell me the delightful secret. Permit
me TO congratulate you"
His brows peaked in n doleful frOwn.
You are cruel to take it that way. 1
don't love the girl. You ought to know
that-you do know it, Can't you see
the hole I'm in? Even If 1t wasn't for
Ella, they'd all think of you as Am
agency girl. wouldn't stand ghost
Of "a show Of being appointed agent
when Hardy quits"
Does he intend to quit?'
IF you turn him down. he'll leave
just as soon as he finds the tribe still
against him. Then-dOnt you see,
sweetheart?-I shall get the appoint
ment MS agent. Your father and l can
rip into the little old mine as fast as
we please. It's Il real mine, sweet
heart. In n few months Wen have
enough ore shipped to the smelter for
me to cut loose from my uncle and
do as l please. You know what that
means.H
Again he came toward her, his eyes
softly glowing, his arms open to EN-
brace her. And again she eluded him,