The Twin City star., 1918-03-16

tnat our lives must be led apart. I
nave tried your patience these past
months, but have been obsessed by
the fear that did not care enough to
give up my independence and be happy
IN so doing. 1t has taken this to make
me know
That you do not love me?'
How much l cared" Her voice
faltered. do not make it hard for
me, Joe. IL cannot bear that Just
now."
lie covered her restless hand with
his. You have always seemed to me
woman of unusual intelligence, Har-
rlet. L find that am mistaken. Your
talk Is idiotic. have known you were
restless in our engagement. You were
AFRAID marriage would curtail your
various interests and bind you to
life you could not escape. That is
about it, is it not?
Dear, did you ever really think what
home meant-home, spelled in big cap
ltal letters2 Not an apartment; not
rooms in hOtel-but home with
space about it, with roses, with beds
OF old-fashioned phlox, with trellises
OF sweet peas. Inside, comfort, not
luxury; Old-fashiOned, with the sun
streaming through the windows, the
tire in the living room glinting across
the rugs, and the two of us sitting
there contented. have pictured this
too long to give it up. The only diff
ference between anticipation and real
ity Is that the scene changes from the
living room to your own. For little
time you will not move about with
your usual freedom. That will right
itself, and the sooner we get home the
sooner you will be better.'
"JOe, I tell you"
Put your mind on those rose beds,
Harriet" He paused, then went on
in lower tone. "Put the whole of
your mind upon my need Of you. If I
knew you would spend the rest Of your
life as you are lying now, would not
give you up. Neither of us has any
one but the other. Your money will
buy you service. 1t will not buy what
/ give you with my whole strength"
Her eyes clouded with tears.
Greater love hath no. man. Joe,
dear, but cannot let you bind your
self to such life of sacrifice"
"YOu would do it for me-"
The answer was an unhesitating
Eyes,"
He bent toward her. II have never
held you in my arms, Harriet; you
were not approachable. It would hurt
you If took you into them now, and
must wait. Neither have I kissed
you. That can be remedied, and will
give you something to think about far
pleasanter than that taradiddle of Doc
tor Marshs."
The color flooded her face. "You
wouldn't. 1 am helpless"
Harriet, woodland will" Suit
ing action to words, he kissed her, not
once, but many times, then hastily left
the room.
But for all his apparent assurance
he was troubled. Navigation would
should leave on the next steamer. 1t
was. equally imperative that she should
marry him, and the only man in town
at the time accredited with power to
perform the ceremony was a justice
Of the peace.
He knew she would object, and to
one Of less steadfastness of purpose
the outlook would have been discour-
aging as he went to her, his hands
full Of letters, that for the moment
absorbed him, but not to such an ex-
tent he did not feel her hand travel
down his coat sleeve and come to rest
in the broad palm opened to receive it.
Joe, when does the steamer leave?"
He looked up at that. Tomorrow.
Why?"
"COuld I gO?"
"Of course. I would not leave YOU"
She seemed to weigh something in
her mind before speaking again, then
said wistfully:
1T would be lovely to live in that
old-fashioned house and have such q
wonderful garden"
you are going to live there, Harriet.
What is more, you are going to walk
about that garden with me and see
it's wonders by moonlight. I have ar
ranged with Judge Harris to call this
evening and marry u.s."
"Judge Harries! There is no question
of marriage now. If there was, do you
think would consent to be married
by any one other than a minister of my
own church?"
"As we are situated, there is no
help for It," he answered quietly. you
must reach Johns Hopkins at the ear
liest moment. Marbury is on the hos
pital staff, and you cannot be in bet
ter hands"
"Joe, Joe What do you take me for?
I cannot accept such sacrifice, even If