Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-10-28

than he himself Is aware.
''Quite sure" replies Miss Norman,
examining her fan with interest.
1t is glorious day toward the close OF
the London season. Outside, beneath
the hot rays of the brilliant sun, the heat
is almost insupportable; but within,
where Miss Norman is sitting in her pretty
drawing-room with all the blinds pulled
down, and soft little breeze signing IN
and out through the half-OPened window,
it is almost cool.
Miss Norman is dressed in a charming
morning gown all pure white - that
clings closely to her perfect figure, and
suits her a nerreille, with good deal of
lace, and Just suspicion of black velvet,
at the throat and wrist She has some
fanciful bit Of crewel-work between her
fingers. but it can hardly be said TO grow
beneath her hands. She is alone Lady
Norman, her mother, having gone to sit
for an hour with her eldest daughter and
the new baby but from the expectant
manner in which her eyes seek the door
every now and then, and the little lmpa-
tient sigh that sometimes escapes her, It
is evident she does not anticipate being
long so.
II is rather more than two months since
that memorable evening when she and
Bohun first met Two months, IN which
endless balls, dinner and garden parties
operas, and small and earlieS, have done
their appointed work Perhaps, indeed,
the small and earGes have the most to
answer for. At al events, Bohun IN this
short time has lost his heart irretrievably
to her. which hardly makes her the rich-
er, she having given away her own
There is knock al the dOor-a short
silence-then quick step upon the stars.
Miss Norman, taking up the neglected
work, evidently throws her whole soul
into It's completion, and stitches away
diligently. Then the door opens and
Bohun Is announced.
You saws Garry, rising with smile
and a glance Of well-feigned surprise.
although in reality she has been waiting
for this moment for fully half az hour.
"Yes, | was anxious TO know how YOU
were after las; nights fatigue. Ineedn
ask. however; YOU don; look IN the least
done up"
No. Dancing does me good. But
how very thoughtful Of YOU to call
There Is nothing very remarkable
about that" SAYS Mr.. Bohun. You
know am always thinking Of you.
well, says this hyPocrite blandly,
taking no notice Of his sentimental re
mark, 1t was a pity YOU didn't put of
YOUR visit for another hour. Mamma has
gone 10 see Lizzie, and now YOU viii miss
her.
.Has she really" says Bohun; bu,
the news doesn't seem 10 atfict him very
severely. On the contrary, Is Is with a
decidedly more cheerful air that he puts
his hat away and draws his chair little
nearer 10 Miss Normans.
Then enSueS an animated conversation,
in the course Of which Mr.. Bohun I'M
parts a good deal Of information. His
cousin has died quite suddenly in Flor
ence. He IS the next heir. He hiss
come in for the title, and the money, and
that Miss Norman Is charmed-de-
hghted-she congratulates him with all
her heart. At must be so nice 20 be a
Baronet, YOU know, and
Then the voices grow lower and lower,
until at last they cease altogether. When
the conversation was begun they were
seated now, as they get 20 this point.
they ind they are both standing. Miss
Norman Is very close to Jdrdiniere, and
Bohun Is very close 70 Miss Norman
And | think YOU love me little, too,
Carry-don't YOU asks the young man
anxiously, taking her hand with very
becoming difidence. Miss Norman 9th
er hand Is trifing nervously with the
leaves near her; she makes no immediate
reply. Her ewes are lowered.
ION the night when first We met, SAYS
Bohun. "you told me YOU would accept
me as your subject. l have not forgotten
that. You were a Queen then-you are
always Queen 20 ne-and YOU told me
a royal promise could not be broken. So
yours ought 10 be sacred. You viii &C
cept me, Garry; You VIII marry me-
Il don't want YOU As a subject, says
Garry. Il made a mistake
"Oh Garry says the young man,
with keen reproach in his tone; so keen
that Miss Norman involuntarily raises her
face 10 his, and lets him see the tears that
are dimming her pretty eyes At this ne
is 50 far encouraged that he encircles her
with his arm, whereupOn she lays her
head very con,entedly upon his shoulder.
Would you have a Queen wed her
subject" she asks. with a little flicker
ing smile. although the violet eve. are
quite drowned by this time.
Il would, said Bohun with decision.
1T would never do says Garry
NO. in little soft whisper, IF you
insist on marrying me, YOU shall not be
my subject-you shall be my king
Il shall be both" says the young man
very earnestly.