The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1944-02-25
CHAPTER XIX

He sat at a desk in what seemed
to Anne a combination study and
office, filed with cabinets and dark
heavy furniture. She waited lit
tie breathlessly for him to speak.
His eyes were kindly, wise and in
finitely understanding.
"I'm going to talk very frankly
and perhaps very cruelty to you, my
child" he said slowly. Because !
think you are very intelligent and
clear-sighted. cannot speak to my
son, because he is deeply in love
and not clear-sighted. Women are
realists, men romanticists."
IT suppose that's true, really"
Anne said.
II don't want you to marry my
son, Anne. Or him to marry you.
I love him very deeply, and I have
very warm and genuine feeling
for you. That's why I'm speaking
to you. I don't want either Of you
to be unhappy. I am saying to you
what believe your father would
say If he were here"
She looked at him silently. The
idea that she wasn't acceptable as
a daughter-in-law came as shock,
in spite of everything she knew.
"There are many reasons. Before
I met you and talked to you, if my
Non had told me he was going to
marry an American girl ] would
nave forbidden it with all the au-
thority I have. Knowing you has
made it difficult, because have
lived a long time and known many
women, and I know / would have
fallen in love with you had I been
Miguel. I should even like to have
you for a daughter, if it could al
ways be as it is this moment. ! say
that very sincerely, Anne"
He came over to her and put his
hands gently on her shoulders.
Look at me, Anne"
She looked up, her eyes wide and
sparkling with tears.
"You're very beautiful, - he said.
There were tears in his eyes, too.
ST don't want to see your wings
clipped and your spirit dulled. We
wouldn't mean to do it. You wouldn't
mean to hurt us. It's circumstance.
Go back to your own people and your
own life. This is not it. You could
not understand our needs and our
habits. We could not understand
yours. None of us would be happy.
/ don't want you to answer me now.
/ want you to think about it. If you
decide to stay, we will love you, and
be as kind to you as we can. God
bless you, my child"
Anne chung to Miguel holding her
tightly in his arms, kissing her tear
stained face.
They were in his car on the beach
across the bay at Palo Secco. The
lights Of El MORO dipped, wavering
ribbons on the dark surface Of the
water.
s'You do love me, Anne, don't
your" he whispered.
ooh, terribly, Miguel :"
IT know it will be hard for you, In
lots Of ways" he said gently.
She looked at him quickly then.
He must have realized what was 60
ing on in her mind all the time
and if he did, it meant that it must
be going on in his too.
Miguel You you're afraid
too I. aren't your"
Her voice was hardly more than a
whisper.
He didn't answer for a moment.
Then he said, 81 am, little, Anne.
But not because I wouldn't always
love you. It's because you're you.
T.. ! wouldn't want anything to
happen to you. You're so lovely
wouldn't want you to be diff
ferent. ! wouldn't want you to be
docile and and domesticated-
and I'm afraid. I wouldn't want
my my family to absorb you,
and make you"
Sand they'd try, wouldn't
they?"
He sat motionless for a while.
Then he nodded slowly.
''--And I'd rebel and we'd
we'd all be unhappy" Anne
said gently.
"Oh, Annel" It was a desperate
heartbroken groan as he drew her
to him.
She put her hand up and brushed
her trembling fingers against his
dark hair.
"Oh, don't-please don'tl" she
whispered.
Anne sat on the porch Of the Ora
NADIA. Her bags had gone to the
dock, and she was waiting, her
cheeks pale and her eyes dry at
last, for Miguel to come and take
her to the ship. It had been harder
even than she'd thought. She could
still see him haggard and unhappy,
and still hear his pleading voice
even after they'd both decided his
father was right.
rBut we'd always have each 9TH
.er, Anne" II was the last desperate
plea M uliis heart. ST love. YOU SO.
You're all ] want"