The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-05-30


hearted. Bat next day, his courage re-
stored he again attacked Hilda, rs she
accidentally stFayed IN the twilight To-
wand the spot where he stood leaning
over the fence.
II say, Miss Hilda," audaciously,
"r I've been thinking over what YOU said
last night, and I'm certain you must bo
mistaken. About your father, ] mean.
He's too wise "A man-l'm sure he ls--to
want to shut You all up forever, and
keep yuu from making friends. Why,
how oould yuu DO anything If he did
get married for instancet"
"Oh :" cried HIldn, with VIVID
blush, "we don't think about that
And father does feel Just rs | told You.
4 " But-please-why not think about
thats It's exactly what | want you 10
think about. Its what l am thinking
about all the time. Shall / tell you
whyl Nav | tell you, Hilda?'
Hut Hllda had fed. in obedience 10
call from some upper window, aud
Erasmus smote the fence wrathtully
with his fist
81 Cunlouud il I" hemuttered. "What
chance has fellow who has 20 make
love five feet OF ? never can get near
enough to be heard, ON account Of this
old fence. IN be hanged il stand II
any lunger}' And ne strobe lhto the
house
Next day brought exciting news. His
patent had been granted, and a manu-
featuring firm in New York, with whom
he had been in treaty pending this re-
suit, wrote to offer handsome sum for
the control Of it. But what were air
brakes, royalties" and ten per cents
to him lust then, with Hilda evidently
avoiding him ? She had not once come
10 that side Of the garden during the
dav. He felt melancholy in spite OF the
realization of his hopes, and in melan-
choly mood strolled out 10 his customary
walk alongside the boundary fence,
though with little hopes Of seeing Hllda,
for twilight had fallen, and she was
rarely in the garden at So late Al hour.
Perplexei and unhappy, he fingered
and leaned, and presently, TO his sur
prise a little sound. half sigh, half sob,
struck his ear. He bent over: dim,
crouchinC figure met his eyes. II WAS
Hilda. crying quietly, while pretending
70 stake down a struggling verbena IN
the flower bed below.
Miss Hilda - exclaimed Erasmus,
in amaze. This ia too good fortune !
l have SO much 10 tell you :" ...
"Oh. YOU mustn't mustn't-we
mustn't talk any more, replied Hilda.
lifting a tear-stainei face. ut isn't
right 1t will never do.
P "Who SAYS SO p with surprise.
Sister. She SAYS people will call
me observation-disclosures, and
father will be angry-and-oh, indeed,
| mustn't
"Islght-minded Improper Just
let me catch them !" thundered Erasmus
so far as one can be said 20 thunder
with voice lowered almost 20 whisper.
"Nuw listen 10 me, dear Hilda.
I have great news TO tell. Ny patent IS
granted. nv fortune as good AS made.
Day after tomorrow must 60 away.
4 sob from below.
Are Won sorry 10 have me go?
Dearest Hilda, are you sorry? If you
are, even the least tiny bit, let mt have
the comfort OF hearing yuu say so. Don't
Won know that | love you, my darling.
/ loved you from the first moment,
think-from the very day that you all
came to this old house. Could you
care for me, dearest; VIII you be my
wife ?"
Perhaps-T could care" faltered
Hilda "But-my father doesn't-"
Now why should we talk of your
father ?" broke in the impetuous lover
from overhead. "If l love you, and
vou-like me, all the fathers in the world
sha'n't stand between Us. My way is
all clear now, dear Hilda. can make
YOU comfortable, and oh won't | try 70
make you happyl Just say Yes, aud
the rest is easy. Only one word, dear
lovep
1t might be easy 10 say yes, per-
haps began Hilda. But an austere
voice interrupted her:
"My daughter, what are You doing
here al this hour, and with whom are
Won conversing ?" asked Pastor Lubke
Therehe stood behind her, a dim and
appalling shape. Hlda shivered-her
voice failed. Erasmus, his courage
rising with the occasion, answered IN
her stead:
"She was speaking 10 me, sir--or
rather it was who was speaking to her.
was telling Miss Hilda what / should
have come this very evening 10 tell you,
sir, If this opportunity had not arisen
that have news which makes 1t needful
for me 10 60 away, and that | cannot go
without saying that love her, and want
her TO be my wife, il she will. His
voice faltered and broke.
"And pray, sir, who are youi" asked
the pastor, grlmly.
"My name is Erasmus Stockton. My
father was Judge Stockton, Of Danbury
all my connections are respectable, F"
replied Erasmus, succinctly. Il can
refer you 10 people whom you know for
my character and prospects. | have a
little money now, and Smith & Petrie, OF
New York, have offered Sl0.00 for an
air brake Of my invention, which if Just
patented. / can afford 10 keep a wife,
Mr.. Lubke."
"And pray where have you learned to
take so great an interest in my daughter
Hilda?"
cover this fence" answered Eras-
mus, stoutly. Pastor Lnbke gave grim
little laugh.
"Such things are not TO be settled in
n minute, my Young friend, he said.
youth is always in hurry. Hilda, you
had better go in. II you will follow me
to nv study. Mr-ahem Stockton,
we will talk farther OF this matter"
Follow by way of the gate, was
what the good pastor meant; and he
b was hy no means prepared for what
happened, namely, his young friends
vaulting the fence like an acrobat and
gaining the garden at n single bound.
"Hurrah, darling I" he whispered TO
Hilda as the pastor led the way through
the garden. "The fence is climbed. /
always vowed that would get over some
, day or other, and have
And 30 it proved. There were some
bitches, some delays. Erasmus was not
allowed TO marry Hilda next week, AZ
was his first wild proposition, or even
next month. Sisters" wheel buzzed
like great bumble-bee all summer
long, and busy fingers toiled over the
wedding outfit through winter days and
, spring days, before Hilda was pro-
nounced by her family "ready" to be-
gin her new life. A years engagement
| even seemed a disgracefully short one
10 Sister" Had not their own mother
been betrothed for seven years before she
! married papa ? But at last, spite OF de-
t lays and scruples, the long waiting
/ ended, and Erasmus bore away his
bride. He scandalized his sisters-in-
law greatly by proposing 10 carry her
. o,,ar the fence as the road by which he