Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1922-02-18

tho paper ne had found. "Syn here"
he said presently going to win
now "comr here minute. | want TO
show YOU this, You Scc," they were
both looking out into the moonlight
now you see, this is where propose
throw the library into the blue room,
ana have a biz sleeping porch upstairs
here" ne explained. "Pcrfcctly FEAST
bic, and yet 1t will make a different
house Of it,"
Harriet commented ntcrcStcdIy
enough. But she heard his voice
rather Than his words, ana saw only
the well -groomed, black.cIad figure the
Siining patent.lcather shoes. the fine
hand that indicated the changes
Perhaps he was conscious of cOniu-
sion, too. for his words stopped. and
presently they were looking at each
other In n strange silence, Richard still
smiling, Harriet wide eyed
Then suddenly his strong arms held
her close, and her blue. frightened
eyes were close to his. and she felt
everything else in the world slip away
frbm her except the exquisite knoHl-
edge that she loved this man with all
her heart and soul.
II want to tell YOU something"
Richard said, quickly and incoherent-
~ Il want You to know that | love
You'll think I've always loved YOU,
this wasn't in our bond. | know, but
think ! couldn't have wanted you 80
Without loving you Ir--if the time
comes. Harriet, when YOU can care for
tie, yOu'Il tell me. won't you? That's
al | want just to know that you will
tell me. You're going to tell me- your
self! I'm going to make You love me :
I'll be pntiem-Tll not hurry you--but
suilie day youll have to ten me that
f're-1'Ve won you"
He had spoken swiftly almost stern
IS. with sort Of desperate determine
tion. Now he freed her arms as sud
denly as he had glaSpcd them, and
added. in a lower tone:
"rntil that time III not--not even
Kiss the top of yonr hair, Harriet"
he said.
In the mad rushing Of her senses
she could not find the right word |
hiit she detained him with an entroHt. |
ing hand. Her eyes, shining with n
look that he had never seen there be /
fore, were fixed on his. But Richard /
did not look at her eyes he looked .
down at the hand she had laid on .
his own.
"T don't think" Harriet said, breath /
lessly, chat l. can ever like You any /
more ,han | do"
She had meant II for surrender: her /
heart was beating wildly with tie
glorious SHINE of proud woman who
gives herself. but Richard was not
looking ut THE hetrayiug eyes. In the
great new love that had swept him
from al his old mooringS there was /
deep humility. He only heard her say
TINT she could never learn To love him
He hcnt his head over her finger tips
and kissed them. as he said quietly:
"But I'm going to try to make YOU
just the same -
Then he was gone, and Harriet was
alone in the softly lighted
room. For Il few moments she rc-
muncd perfectly still, with her white
hands pressed 10 her burning checks.
Then, shaken with joy and surprise,
with a delicious terror and something
" a child's innocent chagrin she
went noiselessly back to her own {
-oon, closed the communicating door. 5
md undressed with pauses for the'f
lreams that would come creeping
,yer body and soul. and hold her in
heir exquisite stiffness for long min
ties together.
She was brushing her hair when
Slna suddenly appeared, aud came
nelessly In 10 sit on the edge Of
lnrrlet's bed. i