Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-07-31

nnger TO Its evident ueti tiimtut. -,
"So you will not wear It, McgF' ne
said at last. II,
ont turning her head. "Why do you
vex mep There's no more To be said
about IL.
"But why. MegP" and he laid his
hand on her shoulder ms with nm at
| tempt mt reconciliation. Tell me why.
| Surely you can do no less"
Because because | cant abide blue,
Matt Erickson. It's hateful to me-"
but like it, Meg and If you cared
for me you would be glad to wear blue
ribbon TO the fair when ! ask it,"
"Why did you buy itPh she asked
shortly, turning toward him bya hair, 3
breadth. Not To please me, that's sure
Yes, to please you and to please
myself. Jenny wears ribbons as blue ms
her own eyes. and am sure you cannot
say they are not pretty. You are just
stubborn, Meg"
Poor Matt! In his uncducated. mas
culine blindness he could not see that
the delicate color that harmonized so
well with his pretty cousins pink and
white cheeks and sunny curls was utterly
unsuited to his brown Meg. who needed
rich dark hucs and warm reds TO
brighten her somewhat swarthy COM
plexiou
Andpup Meg! She had nm instructive
sense OF fitness that taught her this, but
she was not wise enough to know how
to explain it To her somewhat imperious
lover. She could not say she "hated
him.
Besides, Meg had carried sore spot
in her heart for two months; ever
since this same cousin Jenny of Matrs
came on a visit To Rysdyk. She was Il
dimplcd, delicate little creature from the
south-from near London, in fact
where. rs Meg was very certain, every
thing was nicer and finer than in Lancl-
shire. Jenny had sweet little coaxing
ways with her. and she was always pur-
ring around her cousin Matt like . kit
ten; and-and she Wore blue ribbons
Meg would none of them.
She sat for moment rs If turned TO
stone. Then she blazcd out:
jenny Jenny / am tired Of
JENNY She has turned your head
with her flirting ways like 81 butterfly,
anf her yellow hair and her iinery.
Give your blue ribbon TO her. and take
her To the faiT-for III not wear It,"
And you'll not go to the i:,rr. cithcr?'
said Matt, in tones of fsuppres> u passion
Is that what you mean?"
TN not go with YOU" she answered. +.
growing cool herself "a she grew angry
Yet it's likely enough that may GO
There are plenty of lads who would be
glad to take me with no ribbons at all. y
With a strong effort the young man
put the curb upon his tongue, but his
face darkened. You will go with mc
or no one, Meg" he said. This is all
nonscnse-and we to be married next
Michaelmas9 But come" and he put
out his hand to raise her from the stone :;
cit grows dark"
Meg. still angry but willing 10 be
pacitied If she must, allowed him TO
assist her. and stood beside her stalwart
lover with burning checks and down
east eyes. She rather liked. on the
whole. his taCit refusal to defend him
self and his mastcrful way of telling her
it was all nonsense But Just at this
moment, as ill-luck would have it. a
small brown-paper parcel dropped from
the folds Of her shawl. Matt stopped to
pick it up. 1t burst open and yard or
two of scarlet ribbon ripplcd over his
fingers.
Now our poor Meg. not to be outdonc
by the fair Jenny. had bought this rib
bon herself that very evening, meaning
TO wear it to the fair next week. But II
so happened that when Matt went to
Mother Marley's shop to buy his own
blue love-token he had found Dan Willis
there-thc only man in Rysdyk whose
rivalship he had ever feared. And Dan
was buying a ribbon precisely like this.
Mother Marley had wrapped IL in this
very piece of paper, Matt was sure. and
he had sccn Dan put II in his pocket
and walk off with it.
And now. here It was, His gift WAS
spurned, then. and his rivals accepted !;
and MI Meg's talk about Jenny was n
mere subterfuge-an excuse for q quar-
rel.
Yet II she would not wear his love
token she certainly should not wear
Dams. He hardly meant To do It: he
WAS sorry the next minute. But what
he did. ~ the tide of passion swept him
Off his feet for an instant, was to wind
the two ribbons into knot and throw
them vchemently into the sea.
"Therel' he cried. that's settled
once for all"
And something else Is settled 10. Matt
Erickson rctorted Meg. in white
heat :. There'll be no marriage for us
next Michaelmas. no marriage then or
cycrl You would strike me some day,
for aught | know. If should choose 10
wear a red knot rather than blue. I'll
not run the risk. llhave nothing more
to say to you while the stars shine" and
darting round the cliff, she was half way
down to the beach before he ever thought
OF stopping her.
The next day Erickson. maguani-
nous, groat-hearted fellow that he was.
after all, having gotten over his quarrel
from Meg's standpoint, 1t occurred To
him that he might have drawn uncalled-
for inferences. Dan Willis might have
dozen sweethearts who all liked red
ribbons for aught he knew. And how
like fool he had behaved, losing his
temper like hot-headcd boy and throw
ing Mcg's poor little trinkcts over the
cliff No wonder she was afraid TO
trust him. More than one husband in
Rysdyk was in the habit of beating his
wife ON rs slight provocation as the hue
of ribbon; and 1t was not strange that
high-spirited girl like Meg should de-
cline to run the risk after she had once
seen him in fury.
1 r. 4