The Prescott daily news., 1918-04-12

no encouragement to OVerStep the nor nal bounds of cordiality. She was ab- solutely sure of herself and of her love for Jack Barrow. Furthermore, Mir. Andrew Bush, though we'll preserved, was drawing close to flfty-and she wal twenty-tws. That In itself reassured her.
 Thus the third month of her tenure drifted by, and beyond the telltale glances aforesaid, MT. Bush remained tentatively friendly and nothing more. Hazel spent her Sundays as she had spent them for q year past-with Jack Barrow; sometimes rambling afoot in the country or in the park, sometimes indulging in the luxury of a hired buggy for drive.
 But Mir. Bush took her breath away at tim and in a manner totally un- expected. He finished dictating a batch of letters one afternoon. and sat tapping on his desk with pencil. Ha- gel waited a second or two, expecting him to continue. her eyes on her notes, and nt 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. twill you marry mel"
 Miss Weir gasped. Coming without warning, 1t dumfounded her. And while her first natural impulse was to answer blunt "No," she was fius- tered, and so took refuge behind a show of dignity.
 "Mr. Bush" she protested. and tried to release her hand.
 But Mir. Bush had no intention of allowing her to do that.
 "Tm in deadly earnest" he said. "Tve loved you ever since that Sun day I saw you in the park feeding the swans. want you to be my wife. Will you?"
 "Tm awfully sorry" Hazel stam- 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 {: And beside him there instantly flashed a 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. q don't oh, it's simply impossible. couldn't think of such thing"
 "Why not?" he asked. "I love you. You know that-you can see 1t. can't you?" He leaned little nearer, and forced her to meet his gaze. "I can make you happy; can make you love me. I can give you nil 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 you socially. Perhaps right now you don't
 
 that way. can give you everything money. social position, everything that's worth havlng-and love. I'm not an empty headed boy. I can make you love me-
 You couldn't" Hazel answered flat ly. There was q note of dominance in that last statement that jared on her. MT. Bush was too sure of his pow CTS. And have no desire to expert ment with my feelings as you sug- gest-not for all the wealth and social position in the world. I would have to love man to think of marrying him-and 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- gagedf'
 "Yes."
 He got up and stood over her. "To some self-centered cub-some puny egotist in his twenties, who'll make you q 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. "I think I shall go home." she said steadily.
 You shall do nothing of the sort 1! There Is no sense in your running away from me and giving rise to gos- sip-which will hurt yourself only"
 'I 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