Connecticut western news., 1918-01-10
ne got up and stood over her. "T

 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 youi"
 Miss Weir rose. "I think I 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 gos- Sip-which will hurt yourself only"
 q am not running away, but l can't stay here and listen to such things from you. It's impossible, under the circumstances, for me to continue working here. so I may as well go now"
 Bush stepped past her and snapped the latch on the office door. 'T shan't permit it," he said passlonately. Girl, you don't seem to realize what this means to me. I want you-and I'm going to have youw
 "Please don't be melodramatic, MT. Bush."
 "MelodramaticI If 1t is melodrama for a man to show little genuine feel ing, I'm guilty. But I was never more in earnest in my life. want chance to win you. value you above any woman have ever met. Most women that"
 "Most women would jump at the chance" Hazel interrupted. "Well, I'm not most women. I simply don't care for you as you would want me to-and I'm very sure I 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"
 "That is to say, you'll resign because I've told you I care for you and pro- posed marriage?" he remarked.
 Exactly. It's the only thing to do under the circumstances"
 Give me chance to show you that I can make you happy" he pleaded. Don't leave. Stay here where can at least see you and speak to you. I won't annoy you. And you ccn't tell. After you get over this surprise you might find yourself liking me better"
 That's just the trouble" Hazel pointed out. "If I were here you would be bringing this subject up in. spite of yourself. And that can only cause pain. can't stay"
 "I think you had better reconsider that" he said; and a peculiar-an ugly-light crept into his eyes, unless you desire to lay yourself open to be- Ing the most-talked-of young woman in this town, where you were born, where all your friends live"
 That sounds like a threat, Mir. Bush. What do you mean?"
 q mean just what I say. I will admit that mine Is, perhaps, a selfish passion. If you insist on making me suffer, I shall do as much for you. There are two characteristics of mine which may not have come to your at- tention: never stop struggling for what I want. And I never forgive or forget m injury or an insslt. If you drive me to 1t, you will find yourself drawing the finger of gossip. Also, you will find yourself unable to secure position in Granville. Also, you may find yourself losing the-er-regard of his-ah-fortunate individual upon whom you have bestowed your affec- tions; but you'll never lose mine," he burst out wildly. "When you get done putting your head against the wall that will mysteriously rise in your way, I'll be waiting for you. That's how love. I've never failed in any thing I ever undertook, and I don't care how fight, fair or foul, so that I win."
 "This isn't the fifteenth century" Hazel let her indignation flare, "and I'm not at all afraid of any of the things you mention. Even if I weren't engaged, I'd never think of marrying man whose years haven't given him sense of either dignity or decency. Wealth and social position don't mod fly gray hairs and advancing age. Your threats are an insult. This isn't the stone age. Even If 1t were," she concluded cuttingly, you'd stand a poor chance of winning a woman against a man like-well-" she shrugged her shoulders, but she was thinking of Jack Barrows broad shoul- ders, and the easy way he went up a flight of stairs, three steps at a time. Well, any young man."
 With that thrust, Miss Hazel Weir turned to the rack where hung her hat and coat.
 Bush caught her by the shoulders be- fore she took a second step. "Gray hairs and advancing agew he said. "So strike you as approaching senllity, do I? I'll show you whether I'm the worn-out specimen you seem to think l am. Do you think I'll give you up just because I've made you angry? Why, I love you the more for 1t; 1t only makes me the more deteE- mined to win you"
 ,,sN .lf,