The Benson signal. [volume] (Benson, Cochise County, Ariz.) 1915-1921, 1918-09-28


spent them for year past-with Jack
Barrow; sometimes rambling afoot in
the country or In the park, sometimes
indulging in the luxury of q hired
buggy for drive.
But Mr. Bush took her breath away
at tim and in manner totally un-
expected. He finished debating a
batch Of letters one afternoon, and sat
tapping on his desk with 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 mistaking the express
sion on his face. Hazel flushed and
shrank back involuntarily. She had
hoped to avoid that. It 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, "will you
marry met"
Miss Weir gasped. Coming without
warning, it dumfounded her. And
while her first natural impulse was
to answer a blunt ''No." she was f1us-
| 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.
"I'm 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,
SIN 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
q vision of Jack Barrow. OF course 1t
was absurd-even though she appre-
ciated the honor. But she did not fin
ish the sentence that way. II don't
on, it's simply impossible. I couldn't
think Of such a thing"
"Why not?" he asked. 81 love you.
You know that-you can see 1t, can't
your He leaned little nearer. and
forced her to meet his gaze. II can
make you happy; can make you love
me I can give you all that woman
COLD ask"
eyes, but"
He interrupted her quickly. "Per-
haps I've surprised and confused you
by my impulsiyeness." he continued.
'But I've had no chance to meet you
socially. Perhaps right now you don't
feel as do, but I can teach you to feel
that way. I 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 I 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 a man to think of marrying
him-and I 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-
gaged?"
"Yes."b
He got up and stood over her. ITO
some self-centered cub-SOme puny
egotist 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. won't let you"
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 Cos
sip-which will hurt yourself only"
II am not running away, but I 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 well go
now"
Bush stepped past her and snapped
the latch on the Office door. ST shan't
permit it," he said pasSiOnately.
"Girl, you don't seem to realize what
this means to me. I want you-and
I'm going to have you"
"Please don't be melodramatic, Mr..
Bush"
"Melodramatic! IF it is melodrama
for a man to show little genuine feel
ing I'm guilty. But was never more
in earnest in my life. / want chance
to win you. I value you above any
woman I have ever met. Most women
that"
"Most women would jump at the
chance" Hazel interrupted. swell,
I'm not most women. simply don't
care for you as you would want me
to-and I'm very sure I never would
And cooin0 khof Won do feel that waV