The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1919-01-30

Pm sorry, AMY told you I
wasn't cut out for society in the first
! place, and 1 always make a mess of
things"
Gardner came back from New York
! the next morning and in the afternoon
he took Amy to tea at the most fash
iOnable hotel in town. Gardner liked
to be seen at smart places-especially
in company with a gOod-looking girl.
'Biliy's sailing tomorrow" he said,
casually, in the course of conversation.
where to-" asked Amy, with ap-
parent Indifference.
France. He's going in aviation
over there. That's really why he came
east, you know. I've got to go down
town and fix up some things for him
as soon as we leave here-yOu won't
mind if 1 send you home in the car
alone, will yOu?"
''Of course not, Gardner Amy was
: trying hard not TO choke on the de-
( liciOus piece of French pastry which
she was doing her best to swallow.
Then she received another shock.
Gardner leaned over the table and be-
gan to speak in a lowered voice.
| 'Amy-will you marry me?'
is this a surprise party?" gasped
/ Amy.
81 shouldn't think you would be sur
/ prised-I made up my mind some time
ago"
| But I didn't know that. and as
much as I've seen of you lately, it
never entered my head that you loved
{ me. I like YOU, but l don't love you
any more than You honestly love me.
! And I want to be friendS-yOu're a
/ better friend than you would be a
! husband-dOn't you truly think, Card
ner?"
Gardner smiled in spite of himself.
Where did you learn so much
about being in love. little A1ny?''
81 learned the little 1 know from a
very poor teacher who didn't even
want me for a pupil. I'm sorry, Card
ner, but !, do care for someone else.
He doesn't even know 1 exist-hardIy.
| Forgive me, but it's the truth And
you'll still be my friend, won't you?'
You can be perfectly sure about
| that" returned the rejected sutton
promptly.
Amy waved her hand to him and
then turned and walked rapidly in the
| opposite direction from her own house.
| Her head was dizzy and her feet
seemed to travel too slowly. She
dragged herself YEARLY up the steps
of familiar house and rang the bell.
'Is Mr.. William Lane in?" she
asked the man who answered her ring.
'In the library, miss
GEDOn'f mo I'll rro
right in"
Billy was sitting with his back to
the door writing. Amy walked across
the room before he saw her Then he
dropped his pen and sprang to his feet
in amazement.
"Amy!" he cried. HAS something
happened? You want Gardner?'
mo. don't want Gardner-Pve just
refused to marry him. just want to
know why you are going away without
saying gOOd-by to me. It's unbeliev-
able"
do You mean to tell me you're not
going to marry Gardner? Why not?"
Its really none Of your business,
but I'll tell you. For the simple rea-
son that 1 don't happen TO care for
him-nOt in the marrying way of car
ing, I mean"
''What way is that?''
81 didn't come here to talk to YOU
about marriage, Mr.. William Lane. 1
! only came to tell you how hOrrid
think you are-I think I almost hate
you"
Billy covered the distance between
them in less time than it takes to
mention it. Then he caught Amy in
his arms and held her till she had
ceased to struggle.
"And I love you. love you, love you,"
he told her for about fifty times in as
many different ways. Look me in the
eyes and tell me you hate me-
But Amy was too comfortable to
! look up, so she didn't even answer
him.
After a little while Billy looked at
his watch and found it was a quarter
to eight.
''WilI you go to dinner with me this
time, Amy darling?" he asked her
at looks as if I'd have to. You don't
know how much l wanted to 90 with
you that day. Billy. Let's get out of
the house before Gardner comes l
think it would be better to break it to
him after you've been gone a few
days. even though he didn't really love
me at all. Oh wish you didn't have
to go, Billy can't bear to think of
it."
Would you marry me tomorrow if 1
could get Il special Hcense?"
Eyes, any time at ALL"
Then We'll go and see about it
will you come with me?"
Anywhere. You won't be able to
lose me now. And Billy, my husband
and I will be glad to come and visit
! you on your wild and wOolly farm as
soon as you come back to u.s.
-"Then, I'll have something worth
fighting for nOw-that's what helps a
man to do his duty even if it is hard
work, too. I'm the luckiest person in
the world today, Amy dearest"
with the exception of one other"
corrected Amy, and was Immediately
deprived of the power of speech again.
One Thino at Time