Charlevoix county herald., 1920-10-15
CHAPTER XVI.


Amy was crouched on the bench
across from the entrance. The lessen
ing of the light within told her Of his
presence In the narrow rose-wreathed
opening. She averted her face from
him.
Please" he asked, his voice deep
and vibrant with Joyous certainty |;
''please may come lnT
She Quivered. but did not reply. He
repeated, trifie less certainly !:
"Please may come INF"
From the bench came q whisper of
unmistakable anguish: "DOn't, don't !
Oh, go away"
On the instant his look changed to
deepest contritiOn and concern. Miss
Lowrie, You must not believe-nOt
for everything In the world would
have you think for moment that
mean to mock you"
go away! Leave me alonew she
painted.
Miss Lowrie," he apOlogized, at
was very thOughtless of me to say
what did. l should have known how
you-I am very, very sorry. Yet what
you ask Is impossible. should like to
be able to do everything you ask, but
that one thing is quite impossible. I
cannot go away"
you won'tT Her shoulders Quiv-
cred. what must you think Of me =
what must you think Of mel"
"Do you really wish to known
"Oh, nO-no-nOi Go 'way-please
90 'way!"
II explained that 1t is utterly I'M
possible. You should understand why"
"Then-then look away while 60! I"
'"rhat is still more impossible"
Again came the whisper Of anguished
modesty: when l did all the-the
things l did. though you tried to stop
me! Please go, pleased What must
you think of mel"
II think Of you with the utmost re-
spect, with reverence as profound as
that In which l hold the memory of my
mother"
you are-are hooking me! 1t can't
be"
at isv' he rejoined In a tone that
compelled belief.
"But after-but when / made you
b-brush my hair" she feebly insisted.
"Amy" His voice fingered on the
name. Can you imagine that a man
ANY man with the slightest compre-
hension of such absolute purity and
modesty as yOurs-that he could have
been so privileged, yet not reverence
your
She raised her head slightly. but did
not reply. He stepped into the middle
of the summer-hOuse and Strengthened
up as erect as soldier.
Miss Lowrie," he stated, II wish to
explain who / am. So far my every
attempt to do so has been frustrated.
You know only that my name Is Rich
ard Clinton. am an architect, fairly
successful. The bonus on my plans for
the new International Security Bonds
Company building rounded out my
bank account to something over forty
thousand dollars. / am a graduate Of
the Boston Tech. l was born In Flor.
ida, Of New England parents, and was
reared In California. / shall say no
more now until you have had time to
verify this statement-if you doubt
my word"
For the moment forgetful Of herself.
the girl glanced about and up at his
erect figure. "Oh, but / never could
do that I" she exclaimed.
The words were ambiguous, but not
the tone In which they were uttered.
He sprang nearer to her. Instantly all
her shame and confusion swept back
In full flood. The scarlet famed to
the tip Of her pretty ears as she hid
her averted face In her hands. He
bent forward, with arms Outstretched
to clasp her; but checked himself, and
In place of the ardent declaration that
trembled on his lips he substituted an
appeal to her sympathy:
81 am all alone In the world, Amy
utterly alone. Until I came to Denver
l did not fully comprehend what that
means. Women entered little into my
life. / was absorbed In my work-my
career. / have my old home I'm Cali
fornia. but 1t Is empty. l was going
back to II for a visit, thinking that
the empty shell would mean to me
what home should mean. Now
know better. A home without the soul
of home is dead home"
"Soul Of homer" wonderingly whis-
pered the girl.
"Who makes the homer he asked.
"WhO is its soul? Need l tell you
thatf Amy. will you be the soul Of my
homer VIII you be my wife, dearT
"O-o-ow she TREMENDOUSLY sighed.
"Amy-Sweetheart he appealed;
you cannot be my little sister any
longer. Must I then go away alone 10
that empty place l thought was my
home? Alone, dear, without even a
little sister to tease and love mel You
will go with me, won't you, dearest
little wife-to-be2 There's no need for
you to say a word nor even to whisper.
only--you know l cannot do anything
until you Dear, dear Miss Lowrie,
do you not realize that you can hide
your little nose just as well under my