Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1921-01-07
CHAPTER XVI.
Roses.


corner of the garden, where, in the
midst of the fragrant, glorious rose
bed stood the summer-hOuse covered
with pink-blossomed rose-vineS.
Amy was crouched on the bench
across from the entrance. The lessen
inc of the light within told her of his
presence in the narrow rOSeWreathed
opening. She averted her face from
him.
please" he asked, his voice deep
and vibrant with joyous certainty;
please may come in?'
She Quivercd but did not reply. He
repeated, a trle less certainly:
"PIeaSe may | come in?"
From the bench came a 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 l
mean to mock you"
60 away! Leave me alone!" she
painted
Miss L0Wrie," he apologiZed, sit
was very thoughtlesS Of me to say
what | did. | should have known how
yoU-I am very, very sorry. Yet what
you ask is impossible. I should like to
be able to do everything you ask, but
that one thing is quite impossible. /
cannot go away"
You Won't?" Her shoulders quiv-
cred "What must you think of me =
what must YOU think Of mel"
"Do you really wish to knoW?"
ooh, lo--no-no! Go 'way-please
go way"
Il explained that it is utterly i'm
possible. You should understand why"
"Then-then look away while | go!"
"That is still more impossible"
Again came the whisper of anguished
m0desty: 'When | did all the-the
things l did, though you tried to stop
me! Please go, please. What must
YOU think of me!'
II think of you with the utmost re-
SpeCt, with a reverence as profound as
that in which l hold the memory of my
mother
You are-are hooking mel 1t can't.
be"
1T isl" he rejoined in tone that
compelled belief.
But after-but when / made you
b-brush my hair" she feebly ms sted.
Amy" His voice fingered on the
name. Can YOU imagine that 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 a 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. I am a graduate of
the Boston Tech. | 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 l never could
do that" she exclaimed.
The words We're 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 III 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:
Il am all alone in the world, Amy
! utterly alone. Until l came to Denver