Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-08-15
crossed to me. 1 knew you meant

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like you to give them to me. / liked
you better for throwing them away
than for buying them. I was-fool-
ish. And I cannot marry you. be-
cause you do not love me, while L
might you."
With the last low word, she passed
him and went from the pavilion, not
in running flight, but with the swift,
certain step Of hnality. Adriance was
left standing, struck out Of ~articulate
thought. The astounding blow had
and scattered them like dust. She
loved him. Slowly stupefaction gave
place to hot shame for the insult Of
his proposal to her. He had been
coarse. selfish beyond belief and
wrapped in egotism. He had asked
her to be his wife with the grace Of
one engaging a -housemaid. And he
might have had the unbelievable! A
slow-rtsing excitement. mounted
through him; a tingling, vivifying in
terest in the future he had faced
with such sullen indierence.
She was gone from sight. Adriance
was not rapid Of thought, or readjust-
ment. BuS he knew where to look for
vilion and ran, throwing his weight
against the winds clustering oppo-
sition. The physical effort, in that
singing air, sent his blood racing
with tonic exhilaration. He felt
dulness and morbidity dropping away
from him; zest Of life taking. their
place.
The girl wa crossing a dark little
strip of park that lay before the
house where the .Mastersons lived,
when he overlook her.
Elsie Murray" he painted. elsie
Murray"
His voice had changed, and his ac-
cent He spoke to her poseessively;
he no longer depended. he directed.
Instantly sensitive to the difference,
the girl stopped.
Are you running away from me,
Elsie Murray?" His hand closed
lightly on her arm, he stood over her
with the advantage Of his superior
height, and she heard him draw the
cold air deeply into his lungs. Il did
not tell you the truth, back there. I
meant to, but I did not know it my
self. I want what you might give,
and I want to give as much to. you.
Why, do you know what Started me
toward ending all this bad business,
what has given me the will to keep
on? 1t was what you said, the first
night 1 saw you, about a woman
waiting for. her husband, with the
lamps lit, and all. I can't say what
I mean-Fm clumsy! But, will you
come keep the lamp for me?"
She tried to speak, but to his dis
may and her own, instead covered her
face: not weeping, but fiercely strug-
Cling not to weep.
NO." she flung refusal at him.
"No! MOI"
AS her f1rmness lessened, his gain
ed. She looked pitiful and helpless,
she, his tower Of strength. Suddenly.
protectingly, he caught her from the
assault Of a violent swirl Of the gale;
caught and held her against him, in
the curve of his arm.
IF you may-love me, and I want
you, we have enough to start with"
he gently insisted. II promise you
I'll do my part. Will you try it with
me?"
She remained still. But the long
pause, the contact between them,
Joined with the change in the man
and helped him. 80 \
will o marry me tonight ?" he
pressed. =
She drew away from him with a
flare Of her natural resolution.
moi! Not tonight. If you could"
Tomorrow, them"
al 60 home,' n bade him. &c
home; think of everything-of what
you have and what you would leave,
Of all you ant and must miss.
Think. And il, tomorrow"
=, "Yes?"
IF you are sure, come back. T.
may try It," .
He knew better than to force her
further.
Tomorrow, then. I will meet you
at noon, in the pavilion he yielded,
quietly, in spite Of his leaping excite
ment- And there is something else.
Once I bought these, for you. OF
course I dared not give them to you,
afterward. But I did not throw them
away, and I brought them in my
pocket tonight. Perhaps you will
wear them tomorrow, when we go
The storm swooped down again.
This time he did not hold her from
the gust, and she fitted with 1t into
the darkness. But she took the little
package he had pressed into her
hands; she had at last the little pair
Of buckled shoes.