Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1921-09-22

| StEuBHI uBuFe OF Jimmy Bayne ap
peared before her. He had on riding
clothes, and there was a rawhIde Quir
In his hand
you scared me, Jimmyi, laughed
Miss Elizabeth, a trifie nervously. ~
didn't know you were anywhere
around"
beg pardon" Jimmy smiled. MAY
l sit down beside your"
eyes"
He sat down beside her and began
thoughtfully to flick the toe Of one of
his shining boots with the tip Of his
Qulrt She knew what he had come to
say, before he said 1t:
"Once more" looking pleadingly into
her eyes-"won't you marry me and
make me happy forever afterward?'
She turned the letter over in her lap
in order that Fayne might not see, ac-
cidentally or otherwise. the address.
Jimmy" she finally said, "Pd like
to have a little more time to think
about it. Things like this oughtn't to
be decided in hurry"
you've already had months! Or
were they years-or ages2 Why do
you keep putting me or like this, Eliz-
abethl"
"As told you, Jimmy, don't"
He interrupted almost sharply: II
know you don't love me. But you'll
learn to-after you've seen how much
/ shall adore YOU"
He made move as though to take
her into his arms, and she shrank
from him; he had done that same
thing, and she had done that same
thing, dozens Of times before. -,
With unseeing eyes Elizabeth watched
Mrs. Dale step from her motor at the
porte-cochere and go into the house.
Jimmy Fayne, too. saw Mrs. Dale.
but he was wholly unaffected by the
sight of her; Mrs. Dale, somehow, did
not object to his seeing the girl quite
as much as she had once objected.
Jimmy" after long silence had
passed between them, Tin afraid
amt the right woman for you. :.
If you knew. for sure, that once took
rifle gun and killed man with 1t.
would you-would you still want met"
Fayne laughed as though at a good
joke.
"You kill manf why, flcouIdn't
believe it. But If you had killed a man,
or dozen men, tit could hardly
make any difference to me. If you did
do it, you did 1t because there was
nothing else to do; I'm sure of that.
We won't mention it again, If you're
willing. i neither criticize nor attempt |
to understand your hill codes. Marry |
me, won't you, Elizabeth"
IF did," asked Ben Littleford's |
would you help my people |
back in the hillsT'
Educate EN-? YesI Every blessed |
one of EN-"
Freely"
"Yes |"
Once more Elizabeth Littleford tried
to decide. Fayne's eyes grew more and
more hopeful as he watched her lips.
He became impatient.
Tell me-" he begged.
The girl took up the letter she had
Just received from Bill Dale.
"As soon as read this" she muir
INJURED, III tell you, Jimmy. II you
don't mind, please look the other way
for minute"
She tore of one end Of the envelope,
drew out the single sheet and unfOlded'
t. Her eyes narrowed; her face
flushed, and then became Just d little
pale. Her underlip Quivered as she
folded the sheet and put 1t back into
he envelope.
I can't marry you, Jimmy" she told
aim.
Without another word she arose and
eft him. She FASTENED to the house,
fastened upstairs, and went to her
'Oom.
Half an hour later Mrs. Dale found
Ter lying face downward on her bed,
md beside her lay a crumpled sheet
# paper. Mrs. Dale picked up the
'heet, Strengthened it out, and read
his, in the bold handwriting OF her
ION:
Believe me, / am very appreciatiye
# your invitation. But Fam having
christmas with your mother, here in
ny own country" II
II II