The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-06-18

AihCl 4AlH. viz oOuhA
of the girls chamber door as it closed be-
hind her.
The lady raised the duster and went
on with the work, while a significant
smile hovered about her lips.
''Strange child! She loves him, and
will not confess it, though there is not
the shadow of a reason why she should
not"
That afternoon, Queenie wandering
along the piazza, came upon DR., Gersham
stretched at full length on settee. He
appeared to be sleeping, and Queenie
paused to look at him, showing, for once,
all her earnest little soul in the expires
sion. of her eloquent eyes.
She bent over him, her cheek flushing
and her breath coming quickly, and
DIR. Gersham, lying in half dream,
felt the pressure of warm, tender mouth,
full on his.
He opened his eyes suddenly, and saw
Queenie's white dress Just futtering
around the corner of the house. DR..
Gersham knew better than to follow her.
He went up to his room quite happy.
"She loves me-" he said, with quiet
smile. And he remembered her words
of few months before:
"The man whom | kiss of my own free
will, will be my future husbandw
DR.. Gersham laughed softly to him
self.
"Ah, my little lady! You and I will
have a reckoning this EVENING""
But he was mistaken; for Queenie was
missing at tea-time. Mrs. Hyde informed
him that she had gone TO visit a girl
friend in the village, and would not re-
turn for several days.
Not until the evening before the Doc
tors departure for the South did she
make her appearance, and it was very
solemn little face that he saw when he
confronted her in The June twilight,
and led her into the garden where the
old apple tree was dropping its tinted
blooms.
Little Queenie seemed suddenly to
have lost her ROBUSTNESS and self-pos-
session, and looked the very picture of
shame and discontinue, with her Grim
son face and heavy-lidded eyes,
The Doctor evidently had no idea of
letting her escape him.
"Queenie, am going to tell you
about strange dream that | had the
other day"
81 guess-I think-that is, Auntie will
want me now," she stammered, looking
wishfully toward the house.
"Auntie can not have you now, be-
cause | propose to keep you myself, at
least till | relate my dream and get your
opinion of it. You must know that |
was asleep on the piazza, and it seemed as
though somebody kissed me with two
very sweet little lips; and, furthermore,
i dreamed that it was by the same little
girl who made the remark, some time
ago, that the man thus favored would be
her future husband"
He paused, holding both her hands in
his, and looking at her dropping, crimson
face.
Oh, Queenie, Queenie! how your face
did burn! And how the old apple tree
seemed to whirl about And how your
heart did pound and pound in its prison,
trying the best it knew how to make its
voice heard in that dreadful silencel
"Queenie," the doctors laughing voice
was softened and tender as he drew her
to his arms where she was glad to hide
her hot face on his broad shoulder; "lit-
tie Queenic, don't be ashamed of loving
1t is Gods sweetest gift to his children
the capacity for affection. Think how
long you have played at cross purposes
with me, darling. | might have gone
away to the South without this satisfac-
tion, if it had not been for that lucky
kiss. All, that reminds mel will take
another, if you please"
He was laughing again now, and
Queenie clung little closer to him with
a quick gesture.
ooh, no, no! l can not. never can
again"
you must get used to it, lady bird,
and you my as well begin to practice
now,"
He slipped ring from his watch
chain, diamond, with a quaint gold set
ting, and put it on her slender fore
finger =.
'This was my mothers ring, Queenie,"
he said, reverently; she died years ago.
II will give it to you as token OF my
love-"
She turned her cheek to his with a
movement that was scarcely a caress, it
was SO swift and timid, but she did not
speak.
"Now, dear, I will take that kiss, and
then will go, for have an engagement
at the village. Next fall | shall return
from Virginia to claim my little wife
Come, will give you Just two minutes
in which to kiss me of your own free
will Just as you did on the piazza"
He drew out his watch and waited
Queenie, standing directly before him
laughed nervously, and flushed and trem
bled. still hesitating. Never was there {
more timid, bashful creature, now tha
she was fairly conquered. She daret
not even lift her eyes TO his face.
"One minute MORE" said the doctor,
standing, watch in hand, like grim Fate
"Oh, dear" Queenie gasped, and look
ing about her fearfully, as though sh'
were about to do something dreadful
and then suddenly lifted two very meel
lips.
i'T will now," she said. And onc'
again DR.. Gersham felt the shy pressure
Of the fragrant mouth on his, only thi
time he responded with interest; ant
then Queenie broke away from him ant
ran into the house.
The next morning, just before his de
parture, the doctor had a conversation il
the library with Mrs. Hyde, and as h
re-entered the sitting-room he overheard