Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-09-13
By GEORGE GIBBS

room, his hands behind him. ""If she'd
been a man" he was muttering
IF she'd only been man.
Beth watched him a moment. still
smiling.
"Oh, I got what she meant--she was
just tryin' to insult me-"
She laughed. Seems as II she'd hnd
of succeeded. l suppose I ought to
have scratched her face for her.
think would have--if she'd just stayed
a minute longer. Funny, too, because
always used to think she was 80
sweet"
Peter threw his arms wildly into the
air and exploded.
Sweet Sweet That girl! Yes. II
vinegar is. She'll tear your reputa-
ton to shreds.'
Beth had stopped smiling now and
leaned against the wall, her chin low
cred.
II reckon II serves me right. I
hadn't any business to be comm here
not at night, anyway"
oh, Beth" he pleaded. catching
her hands; why couldn't you have
She struggled a little. And then,
when I wasn't2" she gasped.
"But we are, Beth, dear. Say we
are, won't you7'' -.
Not when we're not"
"Beth-n'
You should have spoken sooner, II
you really meant 1t. Oh, know what
1t Is. I've always known there's q
difference between ns."
'No--not unles you make It,"
; Yes. 1t was there before / was
born. You we're brought up in DIFF
ferent kind of life in n different way
Of thinkin' from mine
What has that got Ito do with it?''
Everything. It's not my fault.
And maybe I'm a little too proud. But
I'm straight
Don't, Beth" He put his arm
around her but she disengaged herself
gently.
mo, let me finish. Maybe you
wanted me. / guess you did. But not
that much-not enough to speak out
end you we're too straight to lie to me.
I'm thankful for that
But l have spoken, Beth" he in
sisted, taking her by the elbows and
holding her so that he could look into
. her eyes. I've asked you to--to be
. my wife. I ask you now. Is that
ciear?"
Her eyes evaded him and she laughed
uneasily.
, YES, it's clcar-and-and your
reason for it"
II love you--'
"A little, maybe. But III marry nc
e man just to save my face--and his
. But he caught her close to him. find
r ing a new JOY in his momentous deci
sion. She struggled still, but he woult
not be denied.
d Eyes. you will" he whispered
d You've got to marry me whether yol
r want to or not. You're compromised.
~ don't care"
t "Oh, yes, you do. And you love me
y Beth"
II don't love you--"
d you do. And I'm going to MARI.
d you whether you want 1t or not"
: "oh, are you?"
= Eyes"
b "when7"
Soon"
o He kissed her. She didn't resis
II him Resistance was useless. He ha
= won.
II Beth, dear" he went on. /"
couldn't lie to you. I'm glad ys
e knew that. And couldn't hurt you
y I think I've always loved you-fror
y the first"
Il too TOO, sne Whispered.
d couldn't help it,
It ~ think / knew that too"
u mo, no. You coUldn't-'
Eyes. 1t was meant to be. You'v
n given a new meaning TO life, torn fror
d its very roots a whole rotten philosophy
y Oh. you don't know what I mean--ex
= cept that nobility Is In the mind
beauty in the heart. Nothing else mat
% tcrs.'
mo. 1t doesn't" she sighed. "Yo
n see, II do believe In you"
h Thank God! But you know nothin
y of me-nothing of my past
IS II don't care what your past ha
y been or who you are. You're goo
k enough for me. I'm satisfied"
j. He laughed joyously at the terms q
1. her acquiescence.
'e Don't You want to know what l'v
j. been-who / sm---"
"No. 1t wouldn't make any differ
m ence-not now
" "I'll tell you some day
ID "I'll take a chance on that. I'm nc
lg afraid"
d "And whatever I am-you'll MARI
re Ine?" =,
"Yes. Whatever-you-are-
Y, While he smiled down at her sh
Strengthened in his arms and gently re
leased herself, glancing guiltily at th
er clock. ,,,.
he "I-I must be going now,' she whis
peIed.
And so through the quiet forest the
r, went to Black Rock village, hand
y hand.