The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-09-20

you are worn out, tired and hungry"
He caught her hand and she made Il
fierce gesture of dissent. "Yes, but
you nre, and l know II, and I"
"And you are, tool" she broke In,
almost laughing through her tears.
II am - he said, bluntly. 80 darned
hungry / could murder sandwich
man for suggesting onew
He stared gloomlly at the low-burn-
ing fire In the CRATE. After n moment
he turned, light OF determination in
his eyes.
Frances, what do you say? I've
known you for weel-lt seems as II
we had been friends for years know
II place where / can get II chance in
the garage business. Let's throw this
art stun up and get up or down 10
something to eat and Il decent place
To live What do You Sayy'
She looked In his flushed, eager
face and earnest eyes, Am | to un'
derStand thar You are proposing 10
me?n she smiled.
lie rallied his faculties, That's II,
Frances. | know"
Her voice was cold. "Thank you,
but I'm not Interested in the garage
business or in marriage, and when I'm
proposed 10 | waist IL done in Il lovers
way"
lie rose sharp, his face set, 81
spoke seriously in my way. II
have"
Contrition came. She caught his
arm. Don't say know-really, |
am too tired. You have been good To
me, but cant give up my dream.
couldn't marry n garage keeper
miyht-Somconc who dreams as | do
YOU Sccf'
He nodded, hut his face was grave,
and she knew that the slash of her
first words, when his heart was hoy
ishly open, had gone deep. He looked
down into her eyes, and she saw that
in his the light had gone out.
Yet the big thing in the world Is
happiness" he said simply, and went
out. closing the door gently behind
him.
She stared at the ashes in the CRATE
that once had been evidence Of the
quality of the old building, and the
ashes seemed to symbolic more than
she wished they did.
He is right" she murmured to her
self, as she turned out the lights; the
big thing is happiness"
1 .,n Int ,ftrl, md tho nnNf
day dawncd gray, damp and forbid
ding. She worked fcveriShly at the
picture that represented success or
failure-and the failure seemed to be
looming large.
In the evening she heard him re-
turn. Her heart stopped as he passed
her door and went on up the stairs.
Usually he came in to make her
brief visit. she turned away To busy
herself with Something-anything.
The door opened suddenly and he
stood before her-hiS old, impulSive,
boyiSh self.
We'll l made fifty dollars today,
from art" he announced.
She thrilled with the words. Then
the turn of the tide had come for him
perhaps, \ small bcginning-juSt the
opening-and then
81 am glad" she said quickly. IAN
He shook his head. NO, | GOT a
chance to do some fresco work for q
dago ice cream parlor.'
,r ,,.tf ft1n,1,1AI uhnnf hAr
ears. Decorations for "dago ice
cream parlor," She stared ut him with
wide eyes. Something in his face held
deeply glowing in his
eyes. She swayed bit toward him.
The full, deep voice Of the man be-
lied the tenderly smiling boyiSh eyes.
Yes. fifty dollarS-and a good job.
Little girl. let's swap dreams. I'll swap
my dream Of being Whistler or a
Sargent for Il home | know of, where
skies are blue, mountains green ana
every man and woman friend. VIII |
YOU swap your dream for mine ana
my love, till dreaming is doncT
She felt suddenly weak. The dreari- |
ness of the worn. gray studio closed |
about her; the moving, quiet, manly |
tones sang in her ears and in her
heart. She nodded.
She was swept in his arms and |
held with Il strength that would not |
De denied.
THAT fifty dollars will get us home, |
learic. And now I'll propose as
over should. :"