"
"But the time has come, Patty, to be more than friends. I have known
it a long time. And I want you to know it too, dear. Patty,--can't
you?"
And then, all of a sudden, Patty KNEW she couldn't. Like a flash,
she saw Kenneth just as he was, a strong, brave, true man, for whom
she felt a warm friendship, but whom she knew she never could love.
She might some time perhaps, in days to come, love somebody, but it
would never, never be Kenneth Harper.
The thought made her sad, not for herself, but she hated to give
pain to this kind, honest man. She realised the depth of his love
for her, and it broke her heart that she could not return it.
"Kenneth," she began, "I can't love you the way you want me to,--I
just can't. And, anyway, I'm too young to think about these things."
"No, you're not, Patty. You're almost twenty and I'm twenty-four.
That isn't too young,--it's just exactly the right age for lovers.
It isn't too young, Patty,--if you love me."
"But I don't, Ken. I'm sorry,--but I don't."
"But you will. Oh, Patty, say you will try to!"
"Kenneth, does love come by trying?" and Patty looked into Kenneth's
face, with a wide-eyed, serious gaze.
"I don't know why it shouldn't.
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