Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 271, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 November 1910 — Making Hirn Wait [ARTICLE]

Making Hirn Wait

By JOANNA SINGLE

Copyrighted, xpxo, by Associated Literary Press

Yielding to her first impulse, Alice trusted him her slender fingers a brief,, moment, and then withdrew them from his clinging hold and the man turned Ida head and watched the girl's bright hair, made splendid by the full light of the September moon. Then for a moment he walked on beside her in reflective silence. “Aide,” he said at length, and quite, suddenly, “I want you to tell me frankly why it is that though you have let ino know you do care for me, though you have at least tacitly promised to marry me, you keep me at such a distance? I mean mental distance,” he explained, for her laugh rippled out to remind him that her slight figure was gery, very close to him. "What I mean, Aide, is that you always seem to—keep something back: You will begin eagerly to say something to me, and then you will stop; you have never said straight out and heartily, ‘I love you, Steven;’ and then you will almost fly to meet me — when I get you in my arms, pull away from me on the instant. What is it —are you afraid of me?” Again she gave the little half nervous laugh, and put her hand upon his •rm. "A baby would not be afraid of you, you nice, big, kind thing, you! What a silly idea! And of course—” “Oh, girl, speak out at once—say It!" ,—“Well, then—ldo—love you Steve!" Her tone was low but sure. “But I’ve known you only six months, and that’s a very short time—” “And time has nothing on earth or In heaven to do with lovlng!’ ! he submitted impatiently. “I never lived until I met you and love began life for me! And as for yoo. you’ve known Tom Austin since you were an infant and you don’t love him —I trust!” “No," she laughed, “I don’t —but father and mother do. Why drag poor, defeated Tom into an otherwise Interesting conversation? And I do —trust you, but mother says I’m by half too Impulsive, and explosive—and responsive, and that—real love makes haste slowly.” "She’s forgotten her youth—what a senseless statement!” the young man said wrathfully. “What else?” “Well, she says I should be perectly —sure of myself." “More rubbish, and not of the slightest Importance, so long as I am sure of you! You don’t have to be sure of anything but just me and of my love for you, Aide—do you hear?” She nodded her head, for mere words would not answer the yearningin his voice. The two had been spending the evening with mutual friends and were walking slowly back to the girl’s home, both reluctant to go Indoors, the man loath to let her out of his sight Some way, he could not say how, she seemed to be slipping from him. A desperate sort of Impotence to hold her came over him, and deep in his heart he was afraid of Tom Austin—and of her parents. They had perforce, and without great resistance, consented to the engagement but the mother had skilfully made It a condition that they should not marry for a year, at the very least. Then Austin, with all his money and his real attractiveness just In himself, had gone "-promptly ter Florida to .extensive, intensive farming. This would not have been alarming, but 'Aide’s family had a winter home there—and —well, it was too much for Steven’s fear and jealousy. “Aide,” he said, when they were almost to her door, “I want you to marry me —now, I mean, this fall. Will you?” She gave a little start of surprise, but before she coild speak he pressed his claim In words that could not be denied straight answer. “Don’t you wart to, child? Just what are we waiting for? I can give you a home and comfort. If not the luxury you are used to—that will come later —but don’t you want to marry me—soon?" Hie tone compelled a reply. “Yes.” she said, “I—think I do —but I’m sure It can’t be done—mother would be wild. You know she stipulated for a year, and we tacitly consented*, for the sake of peace. She thinks that I’m—pretty young.” “You’re pretty and young—further reasons for my wanting to have you all to myself. Walting can’t make me love you more—l hope It could not make you love me less. What’s the use—or the real reason behind it? Are you all going south this winter?” ’ “Well, I was just wondering how I would tell you. You see, Maude Is not quite as well as usual, so they have decided today to leave In October Instead of waiting until January, as usual. It can’t seem to be helped. Doctor Wakefield thinks It would be the best for her. It seems. Of course, nobody realty needs me, when you can’t step without walking on a nurse or a servant. But I can't refuse to go. Mother would try and take, on, and father depends on me to help keep the peace. I don’t see”—she hesitated as they came to the porch, and he spoke. “Well, I shall probably ndt cry and ■take on.' but I need you, and you are imine, and my claim is before'~tbelrs. Aide. I need my wife, and I need her now! Have you ever really considered my* loneliness, my position dpHng this unnecssary waiting? If there Wks any real reason for it it would be different. But they do not need you. 11 do. I shall speak about It to your parents tonight”

“Very well,” she said, tonelessly, “but It will do no good.” Thenjhey entered the house together. For a while they sat before the fife Tn the beautlfulTrbfafy.andtben Mr. Brand came In from the family sitting room and greeted Steven warmly enough. He liked his future son-in-law, despite bls disappointment about Austin. Steve calmly asked to see him and Mrs. Brand a moment and the two men went to join that formidable lady where her husband had left her. Aide, refusing to be present at the Interview, sat alone before the fire. In what seemed ages, but'was prob--•kblyJessthanan hour the young man returned, his face set and stern, bls manner cold. He stepped over and leaned on the mantel, looking down at the soft beauty of the girl as she looked questioningly up at him from her big chair. “Now, Alice, I have only you to appeal to. I think your father sees the justice of my plea, but he dares not openly attack your mother’s attitude. She wants —all sorts of things; me, to be surer of myself—&nd to make more money; you to have more time, more society, more clothes, even, and to be furth erasure; of yourself! She did hot give one true, sincere reason. Since she is your mother, I will not say more, save that she did not deny it when I openly accused her of wanting to separate us for a time and to get you with Tom Austin for a whole season.” “Dear—you need never feaer my changing!” and at the pain in his face she jumped up and went to Mm, clinging closely to him. But where once he would-gladly have enfolded her, he now held her off. “No,” he said, “in my heaert I do not doubt you, but I want you to marry me soon—before they go south this winter. I appeal to you! I have no home now, mother being gone to my sister’s, until you make one for me. Aide, your mother would not even -Consent definitely to next June—or even to September—a whole year! What ane you going to do? Will yoir stand with her —or with me?” “My heart Is with you,” she said, softly, “but —I could not—-run away—• and I know, the hopelessness of resisting mother better than you. Dear, I’m afraid we will have to wait.” The man drew her to him and kissed her, then he released her, and took his hat.—- '__ ....-

“When you feel that you can marry me,” he said, quietly, “will you tell me?” “Yes,” she said. “Oh, Steve, don’t take It like this —I will." A month later the brand household wan packed, and ready for travel. Maude, not visibly worse than her usual delicacy of health, was Impatient to be gone. Mrs. Brand was openly triumphant that Aide had made no trouble. Steve had been In the house very little, and she flattered herself as to her firmness. The day of departure arrived. Aide had her trunks packed, and came to the hasty breaekfast already for the early train they were all to take. The girl’s eyes were very bright anad her face happy. But yesterday she had been nierely tractable and lifeless. Her mother rejoiced, but not for long. After breakfast Aide stepped from the back door to the nearest telephone booth. She came back flushed and excited, but was ready with the others when the motor came to take them to the station. At the station Mrs. Brand got the surprise of her life. She saw Steve—whom she had expected. She had not. however, looked for ths Right Rev. James Preston, nor two of Steve’s best friends. There was much chat, and when the train was In sight Aide suddenly took Steve’s arm and they' walked up to that lady. “Mother,” said Aide, “I’m not going with you. ”T can’t leave Steve. I called him up from the drug store and told him I would marry him at the first church he would take me to the minute you were gone. He has the license. Goodby.” The astonished woman was beginning to hunt'for words, when her husband took her by the arm. “Come,” he said. “You must get aboard —Maude’s alone there. Aide Is perfectly right. I sanction this! You go on and I will follow you on the next train after, I see this daughter of ours safely married. They are starting on a trip this afternoon. Come, Mary!" 1 For once Mrs. Brand dared not question her husband’s authority.