Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1874-10-01

burned them after pilfering,' y our glove
did not wish to get the trifes mixed
and so misplace my regrets, you see. u
Helen bit her lip at the straight
forward avowal care you always SO
frank, Mr.. Ferd?"
"Never,' he answered, except when
craftiness can not avail me anyt hing.
If diplomacy could make you adore me
as-as I adore you, I should be full
dedged Machiavelli instantly; but it
could nots" with quick, furtive glance
at her face.
"No," she said, slowly, and coloring
little.
81 knew it, said Tom, checking a
sigh. "Well, I must content myself
with the dead flowers and crum pied
ribbons which you have worn. A man
more deserving that I might receive
even less" A philosophic remark by
no means in keeping with the speakers
gloomy and perturbed countenance at
that moment. A long silence, broken
at last by Tom. ct is almost three
months since we met, Miss Helen. Do
you remember my coming up the walk
and finding you hulling strawberries
with one of Rachel's check aprons on
How sweet those strawberries were!''
almost three months" echoed
Helen, "and-I am going home next
| week.
! Tom started and then scowled, but
said nothing:
"How glad am that we are to be in
the same city next winter" she went on
presently. "We can meet often, and
Clara, who is literary person, will
/ lionize you"
"We shall n@Uer meet" he replied
with most ungraclous curtness.
"Why?" she asked, in slightly
hurt tone.
"Do you need to ask why?" he re-
joined. "What sort of a companion
for Miss Demos friends should | be-a
beggarly scribbler who barely keeps
himself lodged and fed, and has not
talent enoug to enable him to hope for
fame even when he is grizzled and fifty!
No" he continued, more quickly, 81
have had my day, here in this old
farmhouse, without a rival to dread
with no soul to come between me and
the sweetness of your companionship--
l have had my fall need Of happiness,
and covet no halfway Joy in the
future. I was not made to play the
part of a despairing lover. ! could not
haunt your footsteps for smile, lock;
or dance attendance at parties and
operas for the pleasure Of bringing you
an ice or picking up your fan. l de-
spise man who can humble himself in
such way. Yes, and I was going to
add, that l despise the woman who
can take pleasure in seeing him do it,"
He tossed the segar away, and strobe
up and down the porch, which creaked
alarmlngly beneath his heavy tread.
"A pretty fellow I am to get into
such rage about nothing" he said at
last, pausing beside Helen, who still
leaned against the lattice work. "For
give me, will YOU not will never
behave SO again"
81 have nothing to forgive" she re-
piled with smile II like to see you
behave badly, it amuses me, and I need
to be amused.
'Is it not pity that a man is SO
hampered by circumstances as to be I'M
able to assume heroic attitude when
he wishes ?" questioned Tom, seeming
quite tranquil once more. Il do not
care to be taller nor less clumsy; don't
even wish to amend and revise my nose;
but I would like TO perform some Won
derful feat which would forever exalt
me in your eyes, and earn for me your
eternal gratitude. can think of scores,
snatching you from under the wheels
Of locomotive; swimming with you to
shore from sinking ship, while the
waves were running mountain high or
rescuing you from some desperate arm
ed with numberless daggers and revol.
vers. How delightful it would be to
hear you sob out your thankfulness to
your brave preserver, as Miss Alica de
Courcy does to Percy Fitzgerald in my
last dramal At present 1 amuse you
am well nigh as indispensable to your
comfort as a lap-dog; compel yon to
be grateful, and think you could
hardly avoid loving me-"
81 should abhor you'll! returned Hell
en-. 81 always dislike people to whom
am under obligations. When / am
forced to be grateful to anybody, / feel
as though the anybody had string tied
to my little finger and could jerk it
warningly at intervals to remind me of
my duty"
'On the whole, then, said Tom look
ing down at her small figure, "you
would prefer to rescue me, and listen