Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 152: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

By ELMER BROWN MASON ELLA FORSYTHE replaced her cof- fee cup on the tray, poked it exactly in the center of the saucer, then lift- ed her eyes to the young man beside her. “Why don’t we get married now, Billy?” she said. ‘Get married now?” Billy Worthington repeated in astonishment. “* Get married— why, Della, you know I intend to have a home for you before we’re married!” The girl’s color heightened. ‘You mean you want to have this sort of home for me,” she corrected; ‘‘ the home father’s made for his family?” “Of course that’s what | mean.” She was silent for a few moments, then spoke in a voice that was impersonal. ‘Father is twice your age. When he and mother were married his salary was less than half the amount you’re getting now. They lived in a tiny apartment away up- town. Mother did her own housework—” “ But, Della, just think how different 7 conditions were then.”’ His tone was sooth- ing; in fact, it was the tone which had gained him two raises in salary during the year. He now added a persuasive note. ‘Don’t you know, dear, that I want to give you everything in the world—just every- thing? But I can’t at present give you the home you're entitled to, the home—” ‘“‘ Like this,” she finished the sentence for him, indicating their surroundings with a comprehensive gesture. ‘‘ Well—yes,”” he admitted, “ but there are other reasons as well. I’ve a hard year before me—a crucial year. I’ve got to give all my time and thought to my work.” “| shouldn’t mind,” Della broke in. ‘* But [ should mind.” He spoke with de- cision. “‘ You haven’t any idea what kind of a year I have ahead of me, Della. li we married now I should have to neglect you. And I can’t do that. I want to have some time to devote to you when we're. married.” 622 conmiclbooks.conn