"This is something I have been thinking," said
Samuel gravely. "I've had this great burden laid upon me, and I must
carry it. I have to see the thing through to the end. And I'm afraid
it will be painful to you. You may feel that you can't possibly marry
me."
At these words Miss Gladys gave a wild start. She stared at him in
consternation. "Marry you!" she gasped.
"Yes," he said; and then, seeing the look upon her face, he stopped.
"Marry you!" she panted again.
A silence followed, while they gazed at each other.
"Why, Samuel!" she exclaimed.
"Miss Gladys," he said in a low voice, "you told me that you loved
me."
"Yes," she said, "but surely--" And then suddenly she bit her lips
together exclaiming, "This has gone too far!"
"Miss Gladys!" he cried.
"Samuel," she said, "we have been two bad children; and we must not go
on in this way."
The boy gave a gasp of amazement.
"I had no idea that you were taking me so seriously," she continued.
"It wasn't fair to me."
"Then--then you don't love me!" he panted.
"Why--perhaps," she replied, "how can I tell? But one does not marry
because one loves, Samuel."
He gazed at her, speechless.
"I thought we were playing with each other; and I thought you
understood it. It wasn't very wise, perhaps---"
"Playing with each other!" whispered the boy, his voice almost gone.
"You take everything with such frightful seriousness," she protested.
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