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Show "Come, Kezy, It Is only saying tho word that Is hard, tho rest Is easy." "Which word?" quest. oned Kozlnh, suspiciously. "That you lovo me, and will bo my wife." Kezlah breathed more freely. "It h not dimcult to lovo jou" she said, 6oltIy, "but I can't Eay the rest." "Hut If you caro for mo why not?" "Wo aro arguing In n circle" objected object-ed Kczlnh, as sho turned miserably to tho window. Will Carter watched her curiously as ihe stood outlined In tho glow of tho jclt'ng sun, a slender, girlish figure, nlth n wealth of black hair, and a de-ermlned de-ermlned little chin. "Sweetheart, what Is It aro you ifrald ?" Thero was n long sllcnco. "Yos " breathed the girl at Inst. "Of me?" "No can not you lot things bo? Why aro men always so anxious lor a ihcngo." 'Ah, why Indeed!" laughed tho man. "Did ou ever read the marriage ceremony?" she demanded presently. "I know Its meaning," Carter assured as-sured her stoutly. "Instead of n little portion of jour lrlerdEh p, you will bo all mlno to llvo and work for." "For better, for worse. I could be sure of jou. Tho trouble Is. what about ray share In the fintrnct?" "Don't sny 'contract,' Kezy It Is so boistly cold blooded. You need only to say 'Yes.' " "But 'yes' In this lnstnrco Is so wide It covers 'I.ove, honor nnd obey.'" "0" laughed Carter, with new 'Ight. "You conscientious Ilttlo prodlgyl Why couldn't you l.uvo sad so before Wo will cut 'obey.' Many girls do What caro I for lorm, If you will onl5 aavo mo?" Hut Kczlnh shook her head. "No .t must bo all or rothlng. If unablo to inswer for myself. I havo no right to attempt It. No" Interrupting Carter, Car-ter, who would havo spoucn. "Let mo Dnlsh. "Thero aro too many unhappy women, wom-en, all becauso thoy overlooked that nord 'obej'.' Will, do you reallzo I have never obeyed any ono In nil my lite! Dear father spoils me. In his iyes I nm always right and thoro has been no one else. "Now suppose you command, 'Do this, or that,' and I I nm not saying that 1 should, but tt Is possible suppose sup-pose 1 refused?" "Then tho 'Noes' would hnvo It." But It Is absurd, dear. Have wo ever como to such a tilt In nil tho years that wo havo known each other." Kczlnh shook her head. "Wo aro not married yr'.." Carter warted her for his wife, and when Carter made an effort ho generally gener-ally succcodcd In his aim, Dtit ns the days lengthened ho grow despondent. Ho had to acknowledge that Kezlnh's w 11 was out of all proportion to her slight framo. "You aro going to this coaching picric?" pic-ric?" Inquired Carter ono evening ns ho sat with Kczlah on the porch. Sho assented, "And you " "They nro such a fumy crowd," ho grumbled. "Tho Doancs nro well i- ft 8 i jlgjip wife 'I WvPsLL (?. v 9 "But I can't say the rest." enough, but somo of tho men they admit ad-mit are no good tho Marshalls I hato you to meet thorn. But, anyway, i shall bo there, so " "I am glad you nro going!" Carter, gripped hor hand with sudden sud-den ps slon. "If you would only trust me rjways. Thoso last weeks have been nn eternltj- I can't stand It much lorger." After ho had gone, her head pillowed on tho rail whero his hand had pressed, Kczlah tried to plcturo llfo without Will Carter, a calamity that had never beforo seemed possible On tho evening of tho picnic Harriet Doano visited Kozlih, overflowing wltn enthusiasm. Everything promised delightfully, de-lightfully, when Carter arrived with disappointing news. "I nm awfully sorry but I can not go." "O, Will!" Kczlah was In dismay. "Cheer up, girlie," consoled Harriot. "Thnro oro tho Marshall boys. Now, "I don't want you to go." behold my magnanimity! You shall tako your choice" "Oh, no " refused Kczlah, while Carter's brow grew black. As ho roso to go Kczlah followed him to tho hallway. "Can't you put off this trip?" "I must tako to-night's express to Albany. I havo only tlmo to get my satchel. You understand good-by, Kezy, and considering tho Marsbails jou won't go to-morrow, will you?" Kezlnh's eyes widened with astonishment. aston-ishment. "Of courso I shall." "Bad enough with mo to caro for you," opposed Carter, "but alone " Ho consulted his watch, "I daro not wait; bo reasonable, dear " "It Is you who aro unreasonable," accused Kczlah hotly. Carter wns half way down tho steps, but he turned. "Kcz'ah, I can not explain further-but further-but I ktow I nm right and I don't want you to go." "I havo promised Harriot," repeated Kczlah. And ho wns gono. "Well, how was tho picnic?" Inquired In-quired Carter, a couple of ovoalngs later, as ho watched Kczlah making tea. "Hoard didn't you go?" "You objected so strongly, you remember." re-member." "Yes but you said" "1 know," Kczlah smiled wisely. "But afterward I found It was what you said thnt counted, eo " she broko off suddenly ns Carter, a changed and triumphant lover, bent over her. "Condemned out ot your own mouth," ho exulted. "Darling, I've- entered en-tered tho fortress of j-our will." But Kezlnh did not understand. "I forbade your going, tho only tlmo I over tried nuthorlty, nnd, sweothenrt you obeyed." "O It was not obodlonco It wao lovo" protested Kozlnh with lowered head, for Carter's arms wero closing about hor nnd all fear of tho futuro had melted away. "Sweetheart, 1 fancy that Is what It always amounts to with a truo wlfo Just lovo." Ethel Harrington In Boston Bos-ton Globo, |