The Jasper news., 1918-07-11
CHAPTER xvll-contlnued.

nuu bhe
He got no further, for Pearson broke
away and. with hurried Good
night" strobe up the platform to meet
the city bound train. Captain Elisha
entered the house by the back door,
remnant of South Denboro habit, and
saw his niece, shadowy figure, seated
by the window. He crossed to her
side.
"Well, Caroline" he said cheerfully,
"Tm home again. Dearie, l just met
Jim Pearson. He tells me he's decided
not to go on this cape cruise Of ours.
He said you agreed with him twas
best he shouldn't go. Do you mind
tellin' me why? Have you and he had
q fallin' outT"
Still she was silent. He sighed.
"Well," he observed, II see you have,
and don't blame you for not wantin'
to talk about 1t. I'm awful sorry. I'd
begun to hope that However, Wen
change the subject"
Uncle" she said, you know I al
ways want to talk to you. Mr.. Pear
son and l have not quarreled, but I
think-I think 1t best that l should not
see him again. 1t would only make 1t
harder for him, and it's Of no use."
Captain Elisha sighed again. II
guess l understand, Caroline. I pre-
sumo likely l do. He-he asked some
thin of you, and you couldn't say yes
to him. That was 1t, 1 suppose.
Needn't tell me unless you really want
to, you understand" he added hastily.
But / do. ought to tell you. Un-
Gle Elisha, Mr.. Pearson asked me to be
his wife"
The captain gave no evidence Of sur
prise.
YES" he replied gravely; 81 judged
that was 1t. And you told him you
couldn't, suppose. Well, dearie, that's
a question nobody ought to answer but
the one. You didn't care for him
enough, suppose. Caroline, you don't
care for anybody else, do you? You
don't still care for that other Teller,
that
Uncle" she sprang up, hurt and In
dignant, "how can your she cried.
How could you ask that2 What must
you think of mel"
SuloiluCt hC PioeVoeSNt
"please don't. ] beg your pardon.
was fool. knew better. Don't go.
Tell me the real reason. Now tell me.
Was It that you couldn't care for Jim
enough?"
I'll like Mr.. Pearson very much.
respect and admire him"
But you don't love him. l see.
Well" sadly, there's another one of
my dreams gone to smash. However,
you did just right, dearie. Feelin' that
way; you couldn't marry him. OF
course"
"That was not the reason" she said
in low tone.
"HeyT" He bent toward her. "What?'
he cried. "That want the reason
you say? You do care for him?"
She was silent.
DO your" he repeated gently. "And
yet you sent him away. WhyT
She faltered, tried to speak and ther
turned away. He put his arm about
her and strokcd her hair.
Don't you cry, dearie," he begged
81 wort bother you any more. You
can tell me some other time-if YOU
want to. Or you needn't tell me al
all. It's all right; only don't cry"
II mustn't be so silly" she said. ".
had made up my mind to tell 20,
everything and I shall. My not caring
for Mr.. Pearson was not my reason fol
refusing him. He would marry me
poor as / am. And perhaps I-perhap
! should say yes If things were differ
emit know / should say yes and b.
very, very happy. But can't and
won't! ! won't! / suppose you thlnl
have been perfectly satisfied TO lie
YOU take care of me and Of my broth
er and give us a home and all that W
needed and more, but have not BEEF
contented with that, nor has Steve
He and have made our plans, and W
shall carry them out. He will le9y
college in two years and 60 to work Il
earnest. Before that time l shall
ready to teach. have been studyin
with Just that idea in view. haven
told you before, uncle, but one Of tn
domestic science teachers at the uni
versity is girl used to know slight
ly. She Is going to be married mex
year, and If all goes we'll I may
appointed to her position when sh
leaves. Steve and l have planned
all. His salary at first will be small
and SO viii mine, but together we ca
earn enough to live somehow, an
later on when he earns more perhaI
we may be able to repay little of a