Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1918-01-19

inc NouhtAy VI Al lLG park, SOI0eUneS
indulging in the luxury of hired
buggy for a drive.
But Mr.. Bush took her breath away
Mt a tim and in a manner totally un-
expected. He finished debating
batch of letters one afternoon, and sat
tapping on his desk with pencil. Ha-
eel waited a second or two, expecting
him to continue, her eyes on her notes,
and at the unbroken silence she locked
up, to find him staring tixedly at her.
There was no mistaking the express
sion on his face. Hazel flushed and
shrank back involuntarily. She had
hoped to avoid that. 1t could not be
anything but unpleasant.
She had small chance to indulge In
reflection for at her first Unconscious
move he reached swiftly and caught
her hand.
Hazel" he scid 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 flus-
tered, and so took refuge behind
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.
"Ive loved you ever since that Sun
day l saw you in the park feeding
the swans. l want you to be my wife.
win your"
I'm awfully sorry" Hazel STAN
mered. She was just the least bit
frightened "Why, you're" The
thing that was upperpost in her mind
and what she came near saying, was
you're old enough to be my father"
And beside him there instantly flashed
vision of Jack Barrow. OF course it
| was absurd-even though she appre-
ciated the honor. But she did not fin
fish the sentence that way. 81 don't
oh. It's simply impossible l couldn't
think of such a thing"
"Why not?" he asked Il love you.
You know that-you can see 1t. can't
your" He leaned little nearer. and
forced her to meet his gaze. 81 can
make you happy; can make you love
me. 1 can give you all that woman
could ask"
Eyes, but"
He interrupted her quickly. "Per-
haps I've surprised and confused you
{ htv lot, h1
"But I've had no chance to meet YOU
socially. Perhaps right now you don't
feel as do, but l can teach you 10 feel
that way. I can give you everything
money. social position, everything
that's worth haying-and love. I'm
not an empty-headed boy. l can make
you love ne"
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 1 have no desire to expert
ment with my feelings rs you sug-
gest-not for all the wealth and social
position ia the world I would have
to love a man to think Of marrying
hlm-and do. Put you aren't the
man. / 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?"
eyes"
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. I 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 Cos
sip-whch 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 / moy as well 10
now"
Bush stepped past her and snapped
the latch on the Office door Il shan't
permit it," he said passionately.
Girl. you don't seem to realize what
this means TO me. l want you-and
Tn going 10 have you"
"Please don't be melodramatlc, Mr..
Bush"
"Melodramatlc. if it IS melodrama
for a man to show little genuine feel
ing. Tn guilty But I was never more
in earnest ia my. life. / want "a chance
to win you. value you above any
woman have ever met. Most women
that"
'Diost women would jump al the
chance" Hazel Interrupted. well.
Tn not most women. I simply don't
car. for you as you would want me
t5-and Tn very sure I never would
Ana. seeing fiat you De feel that way
its better that we shouldn't he thrown
together as we are here That's why
I'm going"
"That is 10 sav. youn resign because