The Kadoka press and Kadoka reporter. [volume] (Kadoka, S.D.) 1910-1923, 1918-01-18

But Mr.. Bush took her breath away
! NJ n tin. and in manner totally un-
expected. He finished debating a
! batch OF letters one afternoon, and sat
| tapping on his desk with pencil. Ha
Ycl waited d second or two, expecting
! him 10 continue, her eyes on her notes,
and at the unbroken silence she looked
up. 10 Gnd him staring f1odly at her.
I There was no mistaking the express
sion on his face. Hazel flushed and
shrank back involuntnrily. She had
hoped 10 avoid that. II could not be
anything but unpleasant.
She had small chance 10 indulge In
reflection, for at her first self-conscious
move he reached swiftly and caught
her hand.
Hazel" he std bluntly, "win you
marry meT'
Miss Weir gasped Coming without
warning il dumfoundcd her. And
while her first natural impulse was
to answer blunt mo" she waEHu US
tered. and so took refuge belAks &
show OF dignity.
Mr. Bush :" she prou Stod, and tried
10 release her hani
But Mr. EuSl had ~ ic'yution OF
allowing her 10 l0 tha:
I'm in deadly earnest" he said.
"Tye loved You ever since that Sun
day ] saw you in the park feeding
the swans. want you 10 be my wife
win your"
I'm awfulIy sorry" Hazel stam-
mercd. She was just the least bit
frightened. "Why. you're" The
thing that was uppcrmost 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 Borrow. or course il
was ahsur3-cven though she nppre
ciatcd the honor. But she did not fin
ish the sentence that way. II don't
oh. it's simply impossible. l couldn't
think Of such thing"
"Why not?' he asked. 81 love you.
You know that-you can see IL, can't
your" He leaned little nearer. and
forced her to meet his gaze. 81 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 vou
socially. Perhaps right now you don't
feel as do, but can teach sou to feei
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 fat
ly. There was note Of dominance
in that last statement that Jared on
her. Mr.. Bush was too sure OF his pow
crs. "And have no desire 10 expert
ment with my feelings as you Sug.
geSt-not for all the wealth and sociai
position in the world | would have
10 love Il man to think OF marrying
him-and ! do. But you aren't the
man. 1 appreciate the compliment
Of your offer, and I'm sorry to hurt
you. but | can't marry you"
His face clouded. "You are en'
gaged"
Eyes"
He got up and stood over her. 'ro
some sclf-centered cub-Somc puny
egotist in his twenties, who'll make
YOU a slave 20 his needs and whims
and discard you for another woman
when you've worn out your youth ana
beauty" he cried. "But you won't
marry him. won't let you"
Miss Weir rose. 81 think ] shall 20
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 viii 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 rs wen go
now"
Bush stepped past her and snapped
the latch on the ollce door. Il shan'
: hermit it," he said passionateiy
"Gigl, you don't seem 10 realize what
/ this means 10 me- want y0n-ano
: I'm going To have you"
'Please don't be inelodramatic. Mr
Bush"
"Mclodramaticl If it is melodramu
: for n man TO show little genuine feel
ing. Tn guilty. But l was never NOR,
In earnest in my life. ] want chance
: TO win you. ] value you above any
woman l have ever met. Most women
that"
"Most women would jump at the
chance" Hazel interrupted. "Weli
I'm not most women. / simply don
: care for you as you would want me
to-and I'm very sure l 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"
l ..That is to say, you'll resign because
I'VE told you l care for you ana pro
2 nosed marriageY he remarked.
E exactly. It's the only thing to u
, uuder the circumstances"