Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1873-04-03

gentleness there had been in his lining Of the I
little boy. The ufchn had accepted his fate |
In dumb, unquestioning way. She wrapped |
him well in the robe, never glancing at this /
cool, quiet gentleman. Dandy fairly flew. The /
ride was silent one.
When he had drawn rein before her home, |
he carried the rrchin up into the vestibule, leav
ing her 10 follow. When there ne stood him on
his little, frozen, bare feet and suddenly facing
this girl, took one Of her hands in both Of his,
and looking down into her startled, wondering
eyes, said, "Hagar Southey'- not another word,
and was gone. She led the child into the house
her eyes brilliant, her cheeks vivid, her lips
trembling. In that moment she knew that she
had met her master, and that she loved him.
The next evening she went to the Rink again
"a party called for her In large three-seated
sleigh. He was one of the number. She had
hardly taken her seat before they began TO chaff
her about her odd protege, having heard the
story from Della Howe. Her quiet indepen-
dent retorts soon silenced them.
"What was she going to do with him ?"
"Keep him"
"Who did he belong top"
"Nobody.''
"How did she know"
She had made the lawful inquiries.
| When they reached the Rink, Bert Klein cool
| ly swung her skates over his shoulder, without
even so much as "By your leave" and gave her
/ us arm, tutu dlttTWtru DuCkltu ler SKATES OIL
| in that same way as If 1t vas his right. There
was a dash Of color in her cheeks, and, with
out thanking him, she started off in her fearless,
graceful way.
The night was bitterly cold; there were very
few On the Rink, save their party. She was
some distance from them all, when turning, she
found that he was giving her chase. She in
creased her speed; her foot struck some slight
projection in the ice-she fell, and suddenly all
the word was a blank 1t was but for an in
slant. Then she came back into conscious
ness, with the strange feeling that tawny mus
tache, whose touch she had never been able 10
Danish from her possession, had swept her lips;
and she became possessed with the uncomfor-
table idea that that very touch had the power
of bringing her back to lite She was in Bert
Klemns arms, and the others were gathering
about in alarm. "There, it is over" she said,
sitting erect and setting her lips to brace her.
self against a second faint She was as pale as
death. Della Howe sat down beside her, and
tried to make her lean against her, but she said
impatiently, there was nothing the matter and
she was going to skate. Mr.. Klemn, in his
quiet way babe one of the ladies take off her
skates. Resistance was useless. While it was
being done, he took off his. Then helping he,
: to rise, lie almost carried her from the Rink.
The Others were beginning to take Oil the
skates, and insisted OH breaking up the party
he left them urging it, placed her in the sleigh
gave the driver his directions, and sprang Il
| her side.
When they reached their destination he or
dered the sleigh back to the Rink in an hour
I led her upthe steps, and went in with her
though quite unasked. lie even coolly stoppe,
in the hall to lay OIL his overcoat and fur cap
n When lie entered the drawing-room, she wa
seated in an easy chair, her cheeks brlan
:, red.
!. at was entirely Unnecessary. am as well a
It everw she said, impatiently. He paid no al
# tention 10 her remark, but drew chair direc
N ly before her, and took both her hands in his
q She had drawn off her gloves, and tossed then
r. on chair near by.
=. The strange feeling about the sweep of tina
r mustache took sudden possession of her. He
eyes dropped, her lip qui vered in her effort ft
control.
"Hagar, resistance is useless That first da
>, ~ when stopped your horse, and met the fias
~ of your dark eyes, determined, If you wei
Il not already married you should be my wife,"
"Shouldi" she exclaimed angrily, struggliu
10 against his strong will; then snatching ava
-, her hands, she sprang to her feet, and pace
!" the room in nervous, excited way. He 81
+. quietly watching her. Her strength had bee
!. broken, so presently she sank in chair at Il
,. farther end of the room. He went over an
- stood beside her, one hand esting on the bac
y of her chair, the other just touching either pa
~ cheek; suddenly they crimsoned
~ "Hagar, such love as mine is as sure 10 bin
=. love as the magnet to draw the eedle. 1t Ii
~, alreany drawn yours. know IL. You cam
Nv hide It," His hand placed under her chin raj
ed her proud head. He bent his, and the
what had been sensation became u certa
u. conviction. She knew that this was not d
ne first time that that tawny mustache had swe
w her lips Then her innate independence can
ne to her aid. She said, half-shyly ard half col
eu ically. "Joe Hadley said you were frozen fiji
10. he would have come nearer the truth, ifs
ne ne stopped;
ne elf WHAT" looking amused.
"Nothing, only believe heat is stronger tn
&c. cold" and she threw aside her fur wraps
ed little later there was the sound of sleigh be
to Mt the door. He babe her hasty good-nigl
pol and went to satisfy the party's anxiety.
ler The next afternoon Della Howe called al
Id, found Hagar In the drawing room, where
ct; klemn had left her few minutes before.
es course she went into ecstacies of delight at fin
ut ing her well enough to be down stairs, then c
Oh, claimed excitedly: "Hagar, l told you
in klemn's face was familiar; he is the man IL
as, stopped our sleigh, and almost caused 70
ed, death lthat day."
1t, allow did you find that out ?" asked Kag,
r. n cooring.
"Oh! it came TO me suddenly day before v,
IA, terday, when"-evidenty something had cor
IN TO her suddenly now, for she looked al the Ini
,an niicent new solitaire on Hagar's forefnger, n
said, like one absolutely dulled by amazeInel
,ou 81 believe you knew it all the time
IN From the Aidine for March.
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