Page:A fool in spots (IA foolinspots00riveiala).pdf/32

 is a good one; I will see it through and risk the winning."

When Cherokee appeared he thought her lovelier than ever. He looked hungrily at her fair, high-*bred face, her enigmatical smile that might mean so much or so little. She gave him her hand in kindly welcome.

"You will pardon my stupidity to-day, for I shouldn't have come feeling so badly, and I should not have come at all had I not wanted a kind word of sympathy," he said, when the first salutations were received.

"You did quite right," she answered, "burdens shared are easier carried. What is your trouble?"

"I would not confide in many, but somehow I have always felt we were vastly more than common friends. Do you feel that way about it?" he asked, in weighing tones.

"I take great delight in your companionship," she told him, frankly.

"And it is these subtle, intelligent sympathies which make you most dangerously charming. Now, I have a question; do not answer me if you think it wrong of me to ask, but did you ever like a man so well that you fancied yourself married to him?"

She laughed a care-free, girlish laugh.

"Why no, now that you ask, I'm sure I never did."