The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-02-03
That's just it-damn i

ing: Oh. Mr. Fandervyn, how can
youE Captain Hardy never swore once
during all our delightful rides
you've been riding with him every
day?''
''An except one. I've been sorry
ever since that I missed that one. He
was invariably courteous. He is a
gentleman
You infer that 1 am notr' ex-
claimed Vandervyn $50 he's courteous
and smooth and slick, is he? One
might know that you've been raised
in the backwoods."
You forget 1 spent four years at
the capital of Canada"
In convent! No wonder you've
let him play you
The girl met the jeer with a tantaliz-
ing smile.
1T has been a most amusing game.
He treats me with as much respect as
if were young lady of his own set"
There's no one else here for him to
f1irt with"
THAT is an advantage, is it not?"
The girl dropped into her English man.
ner. L daresay he will forget me as
soon as he gets back to civilization
unless decide TO accept his proposal"
Vandervyn stared at her cynically.
"You needn't try to rag me. Marie"
She smiled. $50 you do doubt what
1 say. Yet it is true Captain Hardy
did me the honor of declaring that he
wished to marry me-"
Hardy asked you?-he, a captain
in the regular army!''
''And I a quarterbreed, the daughter
of my father. Amazing, is it not?"
Vandervyn caught himself up as he
saw the proud humility of her expires
sion. 1t was a new look TO him. He
had often seen her proud, but never
humble. His jealousy fiared: How
did you answer him? You didn't ac-
cept-you refused the old board
back %
Eyes and no, that is, not yet" the
girl leased.
vandervyn stepped close and
grasped her arm.
BE so kind as to release me, Mr..
Vandervyn.''
You coquettel You're trying to
play me against him."
$50 that is what you think of me?"
The girl wrenched herself free and
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 himi He shall not
have your
Indeed May ask what right you
have to dictator
love mo @I,as -
back at her. ''You love me, Marie.
You can't deny it." His voice sank to
a deep, ardent, golden note that sent
a tremor through her. you are mine
-minei You know 1T. Your arm
quivers-that look in your eyes! You
cannot hide your love, Marie-sweet-
hearth"
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, glOwed 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 a good deal for granted,
Mr.. Vandervyn," she attempted q
hooking tone. ST am not yet your
sweetheart, nor am 1 so sure 1 shall
be-
He came nearer to her, his eyes the
color of yiolets and sparkling with tiny
golden CLEANS. He held out his arms.
His voice was low and enticing:
weetheart-sweethea I"
She swayed toward him, checked
herself in the act Of yielding, and
eluded his grasp.
!" she cried you're a bit too
sure. I've no mother. halfbreed or
otherwise, to advise me, my dear Reg
gle. I 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"
Vanderyyn'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 trifling with you all
these months, when you know as well
as + But of course. if you do not
trust me, have no show against him.
He is free. / am, as. you know, tied
down by the uncertainty of my posi-
ton"
''That is quite sad. is It not?' she
Knocked. 81 am rather more fortu-
nate. Whether or not there is any
uncertainty about my position. am
not bound to anyone, nor am bound
to bind myself to anyone"
'sWhy are you so hard to me7'' he
pleaded. ''You know that If my uncle
got even hint that am interested In
a girl out here 1t would be all on with
me. He doesn't know what you are
ike, and it would be impossible In !
writing to convince him how charming |
you are"
s'What a misfortunel Only. as 1t
happens, / have no wish to marry Sem
ator Clemmer. He already has Al
wife"
That's just tia wife and half !
dozen daughters. It's al1 cut and dried |
that am to marry Ella. the Oldest IN
married one"
~Ah-so that is Why faItered