The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1879-07-19
She bent over him. her cheek flushing

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 huttering
around the corner Of the house. DIR.
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, viii be my husband p
DIR. Gersham laughed softly to HIM
self
g All, my little lady You and will
have reckoning this evening r
But he was mistaken; for Queenie was
missing at tea time. Mrs. Hyde in
formed him that she had gone to visit a
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 bios
SONS. 81
Little Queenie seemed suddenly to have
lost roguishness and self-possession, and
looked the very picture of shame and
discontinue, with her crimson 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 had the other day"
81 guess--I think-that is, Auntie
| will want me now," she stammered,
| looking wishfully at the house.
6 Auntie cannot have you now, be-
cause propose to keep you myself, al
| 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 lips; and, furthermore,
| dreamed that it was the same little CIR
who made the remark, some time ago
that the man thus favored would be hel
future husband"
He paused, holding both her hands IL
his, and looking at her dropping, Grim
son face.
Oh, Queenie, Queenie! how your face
| did burnt And how the old apple tret
| twirled abouti And how your heart die
| pound and pound in its prison, tryine
| the best it knew how to make its voice
heard in that dreadful silence
"Queenie. the doctors laughing
| voice was softened and tender as he drew
her to his arms, where she was glad t
hide her hot face on his broad shoulder
/ l.
loving. 1t is Gods sweetest gift to hi
children-the capacity of affection
| Think how long You have played at cros'
purposes with me, darling. | nigh
have gone away to the South withou
this satisfaction, if it had not been fol
| that lucky kiss. All, that reminds me-
will take another, if you please"
He was laughing again now. ant
Queenie clung little closer to him witt
quick gesture.
Oh, no, no! I cannot. I never car
again"
You must get used to it, lady bird
and you may as well make up your min6
to begin to practice now"
He slipped ring from his watch
chain--a diamond, with q quaint gol(
setting and put it on her slender fore
finger.
| /" This was my mothers ring, Queenie,
he said reverently; she died long year
ago. will give it to you as token o
my undying love-
She turned her cheek to his with
movement that was scarcely earess,
was so swift and timid, but she did no
attempt to speak.
Now, dear, will take that kiss, ant
then I will go, for have an engagement
at the village. Next fall shall return
from Virginia to claim my little wife
Come, I viii give you just two minutes
in which to kiss me of your own FIRE,
will, just as you did on the piazza"
| He took out his watch and waited
Queenie standing directly before him
laughed nervously, and flushed ant
trembled, still hesitating. Never wal
| there more. tinlid, bashful creature
now that she was fairly conquered. Sh.
| dared not even to lift her eyes to his face
Zone minute more, said the doctor
| standing, watch in hand, like grim Fate
"Oh, DEAR" Queenie gasped, and
looking about her fearfully, as though
she were about to do something dreadful
and then suddenly lifted two very meek
lips.
81 will now she said. And once
again DIR. Gersham felt the shy pressure
of the fragrant mouth on his, only this
time he responded with interest; and
then Queenie broke away from him and
ran into the house.
The next morning, just before his de.
parture, the doctor had conversation in
the library with Mr.. Hyde, and as he re-
| entered the sitting-room he overheard
Johnnie's exclamation to Tom:
Thomas j. Hyde! Queenie has the
doctors ring on her finger. What does il
| mean
1t means" said DIR. Gersham, {" that
1 want you to take good care of Queenie
until next September, and then there
viii be wedding right here.
And there was.