The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1877-06-14

But Kate did not accept his aid willing.
ly; and 50 he went forward, and gently
putting his arm around her, drew her to-
ward the house. Her breath came freel
and easier in a moments time. and Wher
she stood within the wide old hall she
was quite herself again.
81 will not go further if you please
sir" she said, pausing there, and giving
a hurried glance over her disarrangeC
toilet.
''This to a man of my hospitality, Miss
Weston? This way if you please He
threw open Il door into a small sitting
room and motioned her to enter Whe1
she went hesitatingly forward, he drew :
large lolling chair up before the window
and begged her to be seated.
"Oh, but our fruit. Excuse me for moi
relieving You before Of the burden !"
Kate crmsoned to the very roots of hen
hair, as he motioned to her apron of ap-
pies, which she still held looped up oyel
her arm. The next moment he had gath
cred them into a silver fruit dish, and
was ringing for plates and knives.
Excuse me, sir, but | cannot remain
longer said Kate, rising, and giving a
flash Of light into his face
But shall insist upon it. have a
moral right to dctain you tonight, re
member"
''Or would have, perhaps, if WIS not
able to purchase my own ransom.
think | understand YOU. May ask at
Whist price YOU value your fruit ~
She drew her purse from her pocket
with one hand, and pointed to the silver
fruit dish with the other.
The suuire's lip curled for Il moment,
and his steady eyes burned beneath their
perfect brows, with a deeper light; but
when he spoke. his voice was is firm and
mellow as though the taintest ripple OF
passion had never broke over its quiet
surface.
''By the peek apples are worth-let me
see-Some fifty cents, at the early season
OF the year Perhaps | can afford to dis
count Il bit upon the price, since You have
taken SO large a quantity"
''No, no, sir; do not discount the small
est fraction of Il mill upon them, as YOU
value your happiness. If have not
enough money in my purse, | can apply
to some friend to loan the remainder"
Miss Weston"
Squire Waters spoke her name in Il
low, stern voice.
"You chose WE'LL sir. | am sure Among
the score Of girls who visited your orchard
tonight, am the only one who has not
some friend to buy them from the I'M
| happy consequences of this adventure.
There is my purse, sir y
She threw it down on the carpet at his
feet, as she spoke, and then ashamed OF
her ungenerous words and high flow of
passion, burst into tears.
Miss Westonm
The squire's voice was u little tremu-
lous now, but it detracted nothing from
its deep stelnness. He stepped i'll front
of the door, as he spoke, as he OWNED
an intention on the part of Kate to glide
! from the room.
"A moment, if YOU please will not
detain You long" he said, inclining his
head toward her. 'I believe YOU too true
and generous, Miss Weston, to think me
| guilty OF such mCanness as you have Just
;tscribcd to me. am sure that, for Il long
| time YOU must have known me better If
You have not it is not my fault. For a
long time | have been interested in YOU.
Your face pleased me when first looked
upon it, and felt that it was no common
soul, no poor spirit, that spoke out so
eloquently from your features. 1t may
| have been weak in u man of my Years to
follow YOU about, though | have endcaV-
oreu to treat You with the courtesy and
respect which were yours by right, Us |
| have donc. | have esteemed You very
| ghly-have, | am almost afraid, by the
| little pang feel at my heart tonight,
been allowing myself to love You even.
That is all. | promise You Us a true gen
| tleman that | will not annoy YOU. You
may go now
He stepped aside from the door to al
low Kate to pass out, but she stood be
fore him without moving to 60, While the
willtul tears still broke up from the depths
of her beautiful eyes and fell upon her
| checks.
81 will not detain You longer" he Re
peated, hesltatlngly, seeing hat she stood
| immovable and silent.
She drew up her naughty head as he
spoke and dashed the burning tears from
her cheeks: then she started forward
without looking up into his face. For !;
moment she tottcred the threshold, press
| ing her slender fingers over her wet eyes,
and then turned back again to the squire,
who stood, with his head bent toward her.
''l-l-tio not want to go. she cried,
springing back to him, and holding out
| both White hands to meet his eager, pas
sionate grasp. Then -then-but Squire
| Waters is too arlStocratlc a parsonage for
me to meddle with this one delicious lit
| tie love scene of his life. You must
| im3UiDp the rest VDUrSrlf dear reader
All | can say is, that Kate Weston be-
came his wife in consequence of the af-
fair OF the apples.