The Oxford falcon., 1871-10-27
wHAr ! 15 3 DECISION


! I; :: - : ! :
me girl @ho uttered these
words raised a pair Of very
blue eyes to the dark, sullen
face Other companion. Charles
Brandon, who had just that
moment asked her to be his
wife. She was pulling a moss
rose to pieces with about rs
much compunction as she had
refused the man. and not the
slightest bit abashed at the
seris0s tlrn the couyersation
had taken during the walk
through the woods to her own
door.
"Giye me a reason. Kate" /"
"Well," she replied. af.er
pondering q moment. II don't
know that there's any neces-
sity for il. You have my
answer, and that should be
sufficient"
"Then you are vain heart
less" He was about to
launch out into something
like invectiye, but by a strong
effort checked himself.
Never mind he said. i
bid you goodbye
Her first impulse was re-
sentiment at his manner of
addressing her, but on second
thought, and considering that
her refusal OF him had caused
an allowable excitement in
his feelings, Kate Miller
laughingly tossed her fair,
brownish curls back off her
shoulders, saucily throwing
the red-hued leaves she held
crumpled in her hand at him
but he was gone. She had
Just made up her mind to rea-
-an With him, and ~ tel, hssv
in ~ &t6kpx&reofypc4 fashion
iovd nm. she wos.S always
be his friend, and that he
would soon find another to
love him. But now he was
gone, and it made her feel
sad TO think that by her levity
she had been the means OF
wounding the heart of a fell
low-being. Her gentle nature
reproached her for the act; and
though she inwarily admitted
TO herself that she cared poth
ing for his love, yet a shade
of gloom passed over her
features. showing that some
thing like a pang of remorse
was occasioned by her having.
without giving q reason, re
fused him SO abruptly.
In the meantime he had
gone striding fiercely over the
/ meadows vf slaisics--lonEing
to crush her as easily under
his heel as he did the inno-
cent flowers. On, he went
until the woods hid him from
view, then he turned and
looked at the cottage-looked
at it so intently, one could
almost believe his unfathom-
able black eyes had prefer
natural sight, and wood and
plaster had no power TO hide
| its inmates from his gaze.
His nature was such as could
i'll brook any interference
with his will, and his passions
SO fierce that his love was
turned to hate.
sHa. my LADY, he exclaimed
passionafely, toss your dainty
head; scornfully reject my
suit; lift up two astonished
eyes TO mine, and then laugh;
but I'll be even with you yet.
| for as SURF zs -s1xfc l. a God
in Heaven youizHfry me; and
then
Charles Brandon went back
to his business In Buffalo, his
regular features as composed
as usual, and no one would
have supposed. from his steady
hand, bis clear brain. and the
manner in which he balanced
his accounts, that but . few
hours previous his whole being
had been convulsod with pas
sion.
About three weeks later. in
the same place where Charles
Brandon had received his
congo. Kate Miller stood,
overshsdowed by the dark
foliage OF the trces-but not
alone. At her side. and with
one arm circiing round her
waist, sPeaksng sweet non
sense In her willing ear was
o young man. whose bronzed
face and clear gray eye indi-
Gated one who had battied
with the world, and had full
reliance In his own ability "a
meet lis dangers.
| He had been a playmate Oi
| Kateas when both Earc cbil.
dren. and h&d onsx recently
returned xfom the White Pine
silver mines, where he had been
fortunate enough 70 secure
what scarcely one ia every
thousand does--a fortune.
He had met harfships In
every shape, aud knew well
/ xwhmf n fraoass~s. ho had erat -