Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-08-15
vI.-Continued.

l.. Il will. then! You know what ]
have done to Fred Masterson. ]
brought the glamour Of money OF
what L could buy, into his household
n made his wife awake tqa discon.
tent and ambition. I didn'e know
what mischief was working, unit
too late. l did no understand some
Of it until last night. Now, what!
suppose l go away? Where can ]
go? Abroad, or on a hunting trip
While 1 was gone she would get the
divorce, when l came back she and
the rest would push me into the mar
rage. Ny own father is pushing me.
everyone pities her and thinks the
tnlns Is suitable. You don't know
me! l like her, and I'm easily push
ed. tell o I w did anything
but drift, until last night. I am
afraid of myself, yet"
Then, why have you sent for me? ?"
be asked, after a silence.
There was as much %sullenness as
resolution in the unconscious gesture
with which he folded his arms.
I mean to stop this thing.
Because I. am going to take my own
way for the rest Of the journey in
stead OF being pushed and pulled. I
How? What do you mean?"
i am leaving the position where I
am not strong enough to stand firm.
And because 1 know myself, l am fix
|1ng 1t SO l cannot go back. YOU
he stumbled over the word-"you are
not much better off than I, so far as
getting what o want out of life is
concerned. Do you want-wili you
try the venture with me? I think,
I'm sure I could keep my half of a
nome. You once said you would like
to be a poor mans wife,"
|, The last word died away as If its
boldness hushed him with a sense of
what he asked SO readily. The girl
rose to her feet, swaying slightly in
the strong wind; her fingers aapped
the stone railing behind her while
she strove to see his face through the
dark. A street lamp sent a faint
grayness into the pavilion, but he
stood in shadows.
"9ou-are asking-me-?"
he laughed shortly to cover his
W embarrassment.
TO marry a man who isn't much
more than a chauffeur out of work!
Driving a a is my only way of
earning money, just now. OF course,
II we go away together we will have
to live on what I can bring in. It's
not very dazzling, but neither is being
comprehension slowly came to
her.
"You would do this SO YOU never
could go back" she whispered, half to
herself. ITO be cut off from every
one. because Of met"
Not that" he offered quick
apology. why, you are above me
by every count I can make! No, It is
because | can't stand alone. And, of
course-f I were married."
Mrs. Masterson would give. her
husband another chance" she finish
ed.
He could not see her ~exnre,s,on.
but he felt her bitterness, and that
he was losing.
Don't be offended" he appealed.
II thought we could be good friends
why. If I did not respect and--.and
admire you, would I be asking to
spend my life with you? I Know I
am not Offering you much, but it's my
best"
You do not love me-"
He bent his head to the assertion;
Tor itswas an assertion, not a question.
After dazzling companionship of
Lucille Masterson, love was scarcely
an emotion he could associate with
the grave, quiet little figures Of Elsie
Murray. He was surprised and en-
b~arrassed anew. and showed it..
IT am not very sentim entail, I'm
afraid. Couldn't we start with
friendship? I'll try to make a good
comrade for everyday"
The delay was long, so long that he
anticipated the refusal and felt his
heart sink with a sense Of loss and
apprehension. All his plans, he sud
denly realized, were founded upon a
strength drawn from her. He felt
the tremor of his structure Of reso-
luton, with that support withdrawn.
Unreasonable bitterness surged over
him. Even she would not have him,
penniless. :.
She was shivering. He noticed
that, when she spoke.
You wish us to understand each
other? ?" she said, her voice quite
steady. Every we'll. Remember,
then, I never knew who you were un-
til last night. You were just a mar
who seemed lonely. as 1 was Just q
woman alone. Remember that am
human, too. and imagine things, and
how monotonous it Is to be a nurse
and do the same things every day.
thought o talked to me and came
so often because you were commence
ing to like me. Once you bought
violets from a man on the corner,
then threw them away before you