Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1873-03-14

able to Danish from her recollection,
had swept her lips; and she became
possessed with the uncomfortable
idea that that very touch had had
the power to bring her back to life.
She was In Bert Klem's arms, and
the others were gathered about in
alarm. "There, it is over," she
said, sitting erect, and setting her
lips to brace herself against 4 sec
ond faint. She was as pale as
death. Della Howe sat down be-
side her and tried to make her lean
against her, but she said, impatient
ly, there was nothing the matter
and she WAS going to skate. Mr.
Klemn, in his quiet way, bade one
of the ladies take off her skates
Resistance was useless. While it
was being done, he took off his
Then helping her to arise, he almost
carried her from the Rink.
The, others were beginning to take
off their skates, and insist or break
ing up the party. Ec, left them
urging it, placed her in the sleigh,
gave the driver his directions, and
sprang to her side. When they
reached their destination, he order
ed the sleigh back to the Rink in an
hour-led her up the steps, and
went in with her, though quite up-
asked. He even coolly stopped in
the hall to lay off his overcoat and
fur cap. When he entered the
drawing-room, she was seated in an
easy. chair, her cheeks a brilliant
red.
''It was entirely unnecessary. l
am as well as ever!' she said impa-
tiently. He paid no attention to
her remark, but drew chair di-
rectly before her, and took ! 9th her
hands in his. She had drawn off
her gloves, and tossed them on 4
chair near by.
The strange feeling about the
sweep of that mustache took sudden
possession of her. Her eyes droop-
ed, her very lips quivered in her
effort for control.
"Hagar, resistance is useless
That first day when | stopped your
horse, and met the flash of your
dark eyes, l determined, if you were
not already married you should be
my wife.
".Mould." she exclaimed angrily
struggling against his strong will;
then snatching away her hands, she
sprang to her feet, and paced the
room in a nervous, excited way.
Her strength had been broken, SO
presently she sank in chair at the
farther end of the room. He went
over and stood beside her, one hand
resting on the back OF her chair, the
other just touching either pale
cheek; suddenly they crimsoned.
"Hager, such love as mine is as
sure to bring love as the magnet to
draw the needle. 1t has already
drawn yours. l know it. You can
not hide it," His hand placed un-
der her chin raised her proud head.
He bent his, and then, what had
been sensation became a certain
conviction. She knew that this was
not the first time that that tawny
mustache had swept her lips
Then her innate independence came
to her aid. She said, half shyly,
half comically, "Joe Hardly said
you were frozen fire; he would have
come nearer the truth, if"-shc
stopped.
of what?" looking amused.
"Nothing, only | believe heat is
stronger than cold," and she threw
aside her tur wraps. A little later
there was the sound of sleigh bells
at the door. He bade her hasty
goodnight, and went out to satisfy
the party's anxiety.
The next afternoon, Della Howe
called, and found Hagar in the
drawing-room, where Mr.. Klemn
had left her but few minutes be-
fore. OF course, she went into ec
stacies of delight at finding her well
enough to be down stairs, then ex-
claimed cxcitedly: "Hagar, told
you Mr.. Klemn's face was familiar;
he is the gentleman who stopped
our sleigh, and almost proved our
death that day"
"How did you find that out?"
asked Hagar, coloring.
"Oh! it came to me suddenly day
before yesterday, when''-evidently
something had come to her sudden
ly now, for she looked at the mag
nificent new solitaire on Hagar's
foretinger, and said, like one abso-
lutely dulled by amazement:
81 believe you knew it all the
time.