Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-03-08

Jooto bub W turn bnem hQflit r.
His tone and manner grated harshly on
her present feelings and she made no an.
swer.
Shave you inscribed your new victory
on your banner" he asked.
81 do not understand you Sir" she an
swered haughtily.
"You don't ayei Well that is funny.
Do you suppose am not familiar enough
with your archery, to know when the ami
nal has been struck? Come now, Miss
Margaret, don't play the innocent with me.
| met young Carson going down the hill,
and one glance showed what was the
matter with him.
The king Of France with forty thousand
men
Went up the hill and so came down again.
"What, still silent Come, don't take it
to heart. "Why let the stricken deer 90
Weep" i will do him good and make a
man ofhim. Don't mar your victory BY
mourning over the wounded"
"Mr. WentwHr you shall not speak in
that manner to me, as though were one
Of the professional coquettes, who lead
men on and then trample on their affeo-
tlons for Idle, wicked amusement l had
a right to expect better opinion from
you. If you have not enough respect for
me to refrain from uttering such thoughts
| have at least enough self-respeet not 10
stay and listen them Z" saying which
Margaret swept away with the mlen of
an offended goddess.
Ralph was struck dumb with astonish-
ment He had been chatting her for wears
about her conquests and why should she
nare up 80 now. He watched her as she
went down the hill and then lighted a
afnar nd ~ he. .lu -
Just quilted to think the matter over.
"Angry because think her a hiit," he
growled TO himself, "Humph If she cuts
all her friends who ent rtain that opinion
she will have a slim retinue. Has a right
to expect better OF me; The deuce she hasl
Was mol her first victim7 But, then, l
must say she did not have 10 try any to
secure me and so far as I've observed, she
hasn't lured any of the other fellows on.
They fell In as naturally as did and most
of them seem to have got out in better
condition for they've got married while
I've felt no further inclination that way
since the first desire was so uneeremon-
iously nlpped.'
''Had a right expect better opinion
| from me-" he thought. "Well, that's so,
by George, so she had. And I'll tell her
so. / can't afford to have her angry I;
Who the thunder would have to talk to.
| couldn't get along without her. Suppose
I must some day, however, for she certain
ly won't keep up this refusing business
| forever.
"ftad a right to expect a better opinion
from me. Well, she must care enough
about my good opinion TO make II a mat
ter of speculation, anyway, maybe after
ALL
"But pshaw I'm done with that. I've
played the stricken dear once and don't
like the character
Aud impatiently 1inging away his
cigar to emphasize the conclusion Ralph
went to find diversion for his mind by Oc-
cupying his hands in gathering up the
croquet implements before il was quite
dark. Shoulderiug them he started home
but as he approached the apple tree he
saw Miss Woodford Just STOPPING to pick
up the book she had left behind in her
hasty flight.
He hurried up at once to get his dis
agreeable duty of apologising over and
plunged at once into II WITH
"Nlss Margaret, | did not think you
would take what l said so seriously.
ought to have had sense enough to know
yon would be in no humor for Joklng af or
such u scene. You were tight to expect a
better opinion of me-"
81 ought not to have been so hasty.''
she answered. "l'ye often let you say
such things unchecked, but had Just beer
thinking Of"
OF what, Margaret"
"Of myscf and of y0n. OF how We
both have changed iLce we first knew eicl
other. / was thinking you understood mi
and saw something better in me thar
others do. thought maybe you mean
what you said about my coming to rul'
men and women instead OF puppets, ant
We'll no matter, was Just aatterrinl
myself that somebody did not think me
heartless frivolous foo, and-yonr word
showed me | was mistaken, that wa
all"
They were both sitting on the beucl
= now. The tone of utter wtariness an
: almost dispair in which Margaret sal
''tbat was ALL" plerred Ralph's yer
' heart. It poured The oil of tender pity ol
. the smouldering frs of his old love and
burt again into a fierce consuming flame
= !. He had held aloof from this proud sell
sustained woman, because of her pride
:, and now her pride lay crumbled at her fec
~ by thOughiless, unfeeling words of his.
!, lie trembled beneath the power of I'll
i, mighty feeling that surged back again int
u his heart and cried ooh Margaret! Ma
y ). garel were again to offer you my low
u would you again refuse 2"
IL "Would it be the same love, Ralphl" 81
asked with an eager look in her eyes.
y "rhe same, as nearly rs | am II
" same" he answered, "It would be a man
!, love Instead of boys passion, a love
y head and heart founded in respect al
~ congenial tastes and sanctioned by col
y mon sense, and above all else II would
y love Margaret, love viii you aece
III it 2" His very eagerness made his uttt
e ance thick and rapid, but Margaret unde
stood
u "Accept It would I accept Icave
=. Oh Ralph, am weary aud at last L
o' found rest"
I, "Alone the hang-h bird overhead
~ His hair-swung cradle straining
OF Looked down to see loves miracle
lr The giving that is gaiuing.n