Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 26, 2025
That broke the spell. "No, you must never come back." He picked up his hat and his stick. "Mel, would you shut the door in my face?" "No, Daren but I'll not open it," she replied resolutely. "Why?" "You must not come." "For my sake or yours?" "Both our sakes." He backed out on the little porch, and looked at her as she stood there. Beyond him, indeed, were his emotions then.
I I don't understand you," she said, unsteadily. "You frighten me. Let me go please, Daren. This is so so unlike you. You insult me." "Mel, I can't see it that way," he replied. "I'm only asking you to come out and marry me to-night." That galvanized her, and she tried to slip from his embrace. "I told you no no no," she cried desperately. "That's three," said Lane, and he took them mercilessly.
And presently Dorothy excused herself, and kissing Margaret good-bye, left for home. The instant she had gone Margaret's gay and reminiscent mood underwent a change. "Girls, I want to know what Daren Lane did or said on Friday night at Fanchon's," spoke up Margaret. "You know mother dragged me home. Said I was tired. But I wasn't.
"Well, old man, I'm sore, and you're about the only guy I can let out on," explained Maynard, heavily. "One thing I'm glad of we'll face it together. Daren, we were kids together do you remember? playing on the commons straddling the old water-gates over the brooks stealing cider from the country presses barefoot boys going to school together.
May I not come often to see you both?" added Bessy. "You know how pleased we'll be.... Bessy, do you ever see my sister Lorna?" asked Lane, hesitantly. "Yes, I see her now and then. Only the other day I met her in a store. Daren, she's getting some sense. She has a better position now. And she said she was not going with any fellow but Harry." "And my mother?" Lane went on.
"You fear the poison tongues for me? Well, they cannot harm me. I'm beyond tongues or minds like those." She regarded him earnestly, with serious gravity and slowly dawning apprehension; then, turning to arrange the violets in a tiny vase, she shook her head. "Daren, you're beyond me, too. I feel a a change in you. Have you had another sick spell?" "Only for a day off and on.
But it's no joke.... I read about your comrade that poor Red Payson!" ... Then both devil of humor and woman of fire shone in her glance. "Daren, if you did keel over you'd die in my arms not on the floor!" Then another partner came up to claim her. As the orchestra blurted forth and Bessy leaned to the dancer's clasp she shouted audaciously at Lane: "Don't forget that silver platter!"
"Mel and Daren," he said. "No human can read the secret ways of God. But it seems there is divinity in you both. You have been sacrificed to the war. You are builders, not destroyers. You are Christians, not pagans. You have a vision limned against the mystery of the future. Mammon seems now to rule. Civilization rocks on its foundations. But the world will go on growing better.
There was always the danger of that old love affair; there was new danger in these strange wild fancies of modern girls; there was never any telling what Margaret might do. But once married she would be safe and her position assured. Daren Lane left Riverside Park, and walked in the meadows until he came to a boulder under a huge chestnut tree. Here he sat down. He could not walk far these days.
"Daren," she asked wistfully, following her own train of thought, "do you know that most of the girls consider me an outcast? Fanchon rides past me with her head up in the air. Helen Wrapp cuts me. Margie looks to see if her mother is watching when she bows to me. Isn't it strange, Daren, how things turn out? Maybe my old friends are right.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking