The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1918-02-01

| ut timl ana In manner totally un-
expected. He finished debating a
batch of letters one afternoon, and sat
tapping on his desk with a pencil. Ha-
eel waited second or two, expecting
him to continue, her eyes on her notes,
and at the unbroken silence she looked
up, to find him staring fixedly at her.
There was no mistalsng the express
sion. on his face. Hazel flushed and
shrank back involuntarily. She had
hoped to avoid that. 1t could not be
anything but unpleasant.
She had small chance to indulge In
reflection, for at her first self-conscious
move he reached swiftly and caught
her hand.
Hazel" he said bluntly, twill you
marry met"
Miss Weir gasped. Coming without
warning, 1t dumfounded her. And
while her first natural impulse was
to answer a blunt no" she was fius-
tered, and so took refuge behind a
show of dignity.
"Mr. Bush |" she protested, and tried
to release her hand.
But Mr.. Bush had no intention of
allowing her to do that.
"rm In deadly earnest" he said.
I've loved you ever since that Sun
day I saw you In the park feeding
the swans. want You to be my wife
Will your
am awfully sorry" Hazel STAN.
mered. She was Just the least bit
frightened. "Why, you're" The
thing that was uppermost in her mind.
and what she came near saying, was !:
"You're old enough to be my father"
And beside him there instantly flashed
a vision of Jack Barrow. OF course It
was absurd-even though she appre-
ciated the honor. But she did not fin
fish the sentence that way. II don't
oh, it's simply impossible. couldn't
think Of such a thing"
"Why notf" he asked. II love you.
You know that-you can see It, can't
you?" He leaned a little nearer, and
forced her to meet his gaze. II can
make you happy; can make you love
me. / can give you all that woman
could ask"
"Yes, but"
He interrupted her quickly. "Per-
haps I've surprised and confused you
by my impulsiveness," he continued.
"But I've had no chance to meet you
socially. Perhaps right now you don't
feel as do, but can teach you to feel
that way. ! can give you everything
money, social position, everything
that's worth having-and love. I'm
not an empty-headed boy. / can make
you love me-"
"You couldn't" Hazel answered fiat
ly. There was a note of dominance
In that last statement that Jared on
her. Mr.. Bush was too sure of his pow
ers. "And / have no desire to expert
ment with my feelings as you sug-
gest-not for all the wealth and social
position in the world. / would have
to love q man to think of marrying
him--and / do. But you aren't the
man. I appreciate the compliment
of >your offer, and I'm sorry to hurt
you, but I can't marry you"
His face clouded. "You are en-
gagedi"
Eyes"
He got up and stood over her. ITO
some self-centered cub-some puny
egotlst In his twenties, who'll make
you a slave to his needs and whims,
and discard you for another woman
when you've worn out your youth and
beauty" he cried. "But you won't
marry him. I won't let your
Miss Weir rose. II think shall go
home" she said steadily.
"You shall do nothing of the sort
There Is no sense In your running
away from me and giving rise to gos-
sip-which win hurt yourself only"
Il am not running away, but / can't
stay here and listen to such things
from you. It's impossible, under the
circumstances, for me TO continue
working here, so may as wen 90
now"
Bush stepped past her and snapped
the latch on the Office door. II shan't
permit It." he said passionately.
"Girl, you don't seem to realize what
this means TO me. want you-and |
I'm going to have you!"
"Please don't be melodramatic, Mr.
Bush"
aMelodramatici II 1t Is melodrama |
for man to show a little genuine feel
Ing, Tn guilty. But was never more
in earnest In my life. / want chance
TO win you. I value you above any
woman have ever met. Most women
that"
aMost women would jump at the
chance" Hazel interrupted. @Well,
I'm not most women. I simply don't
care for you IS you would want me
to-and Tn very sure never would.
And. seeing that you do feel that way.
It's better that we shouldn't be thrown
together as we are here. That's why
I'm going
s<That Is to say, you'll resign because
I've told you ] care for you and pro
posed marriage74 he remarked.
Exactly. It's the only thing to do
rnser fha efreumSfancasm