Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1924-12-25


$50 1t was. / fancIed her. love
you. I'm asking you to marry me-"
You don't have to ask me to marry
you because you exaggerate the serv-
ice did you"
81 ask you because love you"
Thank you very much for the COM
pliment. Sorry l must decline" She
did not dare look at him. Her eyes
were fixed ON the mill far below.
"why must you-since you love
me?"
The telltale pink stained her cheeks.
''You take that for granted. do your
Its true, I believe. How can ]
make love to you rs other men dol
Lady Farquhar won't let me see you
alone-even IL you were willing to
give me a chance. In two days you
are going out Of my life. I must
speak the truth bluntly. I love
you. II has been that way with me
ever since you came into my life again,
little Moya. But I was blind and
didn't see It till till was alone
In the mine with DEATH"
II am sorry"
That II not enough. I'm going to
have the truth. You saved my life.
What forf II Ii yours II you
will take It."
She looked straight at him. II can't
marry you"
"why can't your Can you say that
You don't love mef''
In the fullcharged silence that fol
lowed a sitting emotion raced through
her blood. The excitement In her SET
q pulse beating in her throat. Woman
like, she evaded the issue.
"The cable has stopped. What has
happenedr'
Nothing has happened. It has
stopped because I arranged with the
engineer at the hoist to have II stop.
When I give the signal II win start
again"
He brushed aside her futile protest.
'Tm going to have this out with you.
Dare you tell me that you don't love
me, MoyaT
He forced her to meet his eyes, and
In that moment she felt weak and
faint The throb of passion beat tu-
multuously against her will.
please be generous. What
will they thinkf Let us start" she
begged.
They win think something Is wrong
with the machinery. But II doesn't
matter In the least what they think.
It's my last chance. and I'll not give
II up. You've got to answer me-"
The point where the bucket had
stopped was q hundred feet above the
ground below. She looked down, and
shuddered.
Its 30 far down please"
Then don't look down. Look at me,
Moya. 1t won't take you moment to
answer me-"
Il have. I said I couldn't marry
you"
Tell me that you don't love me and
IN /, give the signal sun.i :
Look straight at me and say It."
She tried to look at him and repeat
II. but her eyes betrayed the secret
she was fighting to keep from him.
The long lashes fell to the hot cheeks
an instant too late.
His hand found hers. MY little
Irish wild rose, all sweetness and
thorna" he murmured
Above the tumult of her heart she
heard her voice say. as II 1t were that
Of q stranger. "It's no use I
can't marry you"
Because I'm q highgraderT
She nodded.
do you think I'm worse than other
menf Down In the bottom Of your
heart do you believe thatr'
She smiled wanly. "Other men are
not making love to me-"
Am I nothing but q thief to your
Il have told you that you are the
man love. Isn't that a good
dealr'
The desire Of her. pure as fame.
swept through him. Its the greatest
tAluk tuut ever cuhhic ihto my nav ~
you think I'm going to let II end theref
I'm going to fight for our happiness.
I'm going to beat down the things that
come between MS"
"You can't It's too late" she cried
wistfully.
-Irs never too late for love so long
rs were both alive
"Not for love. but :"
you've got TO see this as see II.
sweetheart. I'm a man-prtmitive. IL
you like. I've done wild and evil
things-plenty Of them What Of thati
I slough them on and trample them
down The heart Of me is clean,
isn't itr'
Yes"
To look at him was enough to clear
away all doubt. He had the faults
that 20 with full-blooded elemental
life. but at bottom this virile American
was sound
well, Isn't that enoughr'
The little movement Of her hands
toward him seemed to beg for pity.
-Jacki ! can't help IL. Maybe I'm