Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1936-09-11
FOURTH INSTALMENT

"Then you've got an appetit
after alp" he declared as he start
ed.
eyes, this is delicious" she re
piled. 81 guess you were right. In
positively hungry" Something
seemed to warn Maris, now that sh'
had better draw Rods attention t.
the food, rather than let him &c
sentimental. She felt strangely I'm
decided about what her answer to
proposal should be.
However, she could not defe
that answer indefinitely and SO al
hour later as dusk was falling ane
they strolled through Ban Cort
landt Park, once O Rod told he
of his love. "Tell me you'll marry
me, Maris," he begged as he caugh'
her to his heart, and, beneath the
light of the full moon, looked
hungrily into her great dark eyes
Her heart hammered furiously
She loved this man madly. She
longed to throw her arms aroune
his neck, to kiss him rapturously
and whisper, EYES," but something
told her, if she did, she must enc
all her dreams about Stan. If she
gave Rod the promise that he want
ed, he would insist on her wearing
his ring, and if the gadget passed
the tests as he felt sure it would
then there would be no excuse for
waiting to get married.
He would get a cheap new car.
and Dulcie would be discarded:
Maybe, in spite of anything she
could say, Rod would insist that
they live in the country. Oh, SC
much would be involved if she
whispered, eyes" And yet her
heart cried out insistently that she
loved him, that by marrying him
she would save herself from any
heartbreaks, she might meet if she
made up her mind to walk in ways
that were foreign to the course Of
her life.
Rods lips sought hers. For .
long moment they held hers. Their
as she moved in his arms, he whis-
pered huskily, "You will, darling?'
"Oh, Rod" and she gave a quiv'
ering, hysterical little laugh, don
get so serious. Can't we just b
friends, like we've always been?"
But you love me-" he criee
hoarsely as he caught her once
more to his heart. "You know yor
do, Maris darling. Won't you bf
my wife?"
Lightly Maris placed her hands
against him as she tried to slip from
his arms. How she loved him! II
he kissed her once more, maybe she
would not have. the courage to re.
fuse his love, and yet something
seemed to keep her from givins
him her answer.
Again she laughed, a falsetto mott
in her voice. "Oh, Rod, this is 81
sudden she Knocked. Then sudden
ly serious, she added, Il don't wan'
to think about getting married
at least not just yet"
The passion died out of Rod
voice as his arms dropped to hi
sides. His sea-blue eyes seemed tx
search to the very depth Of her be-
ing az he exclaimed. Then yo'
don't love me any more. There /
someone else?o.
Beneath the fixity Of his gaze
Maris' thickly dashed eyelids drop
ped over her dark eyes. He mus
not read the secret Of her heart
for, ever if she felt another fat
might be in store for her, she coult
not deny her love for this man wit
cared for her so passionately. Bet
ter keep that secret to herself. Bet
ter let Rod languish in uncertainty
at least until she could see wha'
the future might hold for her.
"You know l like you, Rod,
she whispered, as sheplucked light
ly at the sleeve Of his coat.
That's not what l want, Maris
l want your love, but evidently Tn
too late. Well, let's go home" ans
silently they went across the park
But as they reached the apart