The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1880-08-07

Tor that matter, or 500, if you please,
when Cupid Is playing pranks with you ?
III Is game, however, that two must
play at, II 1t IS to lead to agreeable and
satisfactory results.
Rachel Cary made hot love to Pat, and
Pat blushed and twiddled his fingers aud
neld back, and was ashamed-as some
tunes, not always happens with raw lads
and absolutely had scarcely n word to
say for himself. What made the matter
/ worse was that 1t might have led to a
! COLLISION between the brothers, for Shad
Ryley was as much in love with Rachel
! Cary as that headstrong woman was in
love with Pat 1t was in everybody's
mouth, and no man on Jackass Flat could
/ see how It was going to end. Shad Ryley
! told Rachel so.
-" Eyerybody's talking about it" he
said to her.
Let them talk she replied with a
toss Of the head
"Ihey say they don't see how it is to
end, . said Shad Ryley.
8 know how 1t Is to end" she said
softly, and turned away with a sigh-not
had made up her mind to be Mrs. Rylev,
and, despite Pats shyness, she was con
4 fident it would all come right.
I'm matrimony, | suppose" said Shad
! Ryley.
cit shan't be my fault if it doesn't, y
! she retorted as bold as brass.
They had grown into the habit of talk
/ ing to each other III this fashion She
! knew well enough that Shad Ryley loved
! the very ground she walked upon, and
that she could be as saucy to him as sh e
4 pleased; but she had discovered that it
would not do to be too soft and cOnfding
to this strong man, who was ready to
take advantage of any feminine weakness
into which She might be betrayed.
Rachel" said Shad, don't you see
that Pat isn't exactly-isn THAT is to
/ say"
"Isn't in love with me ?" interrupted
Rachel, defantly. lis that what you
are trying to say?"
Yes; that is what was trying to say.
Don't you think | can make INN in
love with me ?" she asked, turning her
melting eyes upon Shad.
"Indeed, and | think" he replied
with much tenderness, "that you could
make Il stone love you if you cared to
try
Gwen, thcu." she exclaimed, as
though that settled the question. She
was secretly pleased with him for his
tlattery, which was at once insidious and
I sincere.
He grew cool presently and returned
to the attack.
but don't you think, Rachel, that
you are a little too-that is, that Pat is a
little too
She helped him out of his difficulty
again.
''That [ am little too old for Pat is
! that what you are trying to say?"
He nodded, somewhat terrified, for he
/ expected a storm. No small matter to
tritie with a woman's age. But she met
/ the attack bravely.
THAT is our affair, Pats and mine
If we are satisfied, who business is it o.
"Nobodys, said Shad Riley, "and
I'm a fool for my pains. Forgive me- -
He held ont ms hand, she accepted ii.
He gave her fingers brotherly squeeze;
she returned it with a sisterly pressure
$50 you havefnally and positively made
up your mind to be Mrs Riley?"
That is just it, Shad.
g Say it again. he cried. 1t was the
E
Christian name alone; hitherto it had
been Shad Riley or Mr.. Riley.
Say what again? ?" she inquired, star
tied by his yehemence.
"Shad"
"Wcl, there-Shad What harm is
there IN it? We're going to be brother
and sister"
"And there's no turning You? You
are determined to be Mrs. Ryley ?"
IF | am not I'll live a single woman
al the days Of my life. F"
There's no help for it then" said
Shad, with an air Of comic resignation
"Giye me a kiss on it - He took one,
without waiting for permission-a low
ing, warm kiss, which made her palpi-
tate. You are a woman of your word,
and willy-nilly, [ must be satisfied"
She did not quite know what to make
Of this. He accepted the loss Of her too
lightly, she thought. He should have
sighed and pulled a long face; he should
have gone protesting and appealing
LII punish him for it" she said to her
self. "Ha shall have no more kisses. -
But his ardent embrace had disturbed
her; never in her life had she been pas
sionateIv kissed. and she could not help
thinking that Shad Ryley was proper
man. If it had been suggested to her
that it was possible woman could have
loved two men ut one time she would
have Indignantly repealed the insinua-
ton. 1t is really an open question.
Love has never yet been properly ana
lyzed, nor have its limits been accurately
! asceItaiucd and defined.
From the date of this conversation the
aspect of affairs underwent "A change.
Pat became less coy, although he still
held off; but he appeared to be warming,
and Rachel Cary absolutely forced a kiss
from him that is to say, she shamed
one from him. She had to thank Shad
for If. He twitted his brother in her
F.. presence for his over-modesty, and said
that women loved men either to treat
badly or to he a little too bold. Either
course set them on fire, If they loved a
fellow; and Shad declared that to behave
as Pat was behaving, neither one thing
nor the other, was absolutely shameful.
"Give her kiss, Pat, he cried; ''for
my part, [ don't care fig" Here he
snapped his fingers g | love her better
than you do, though she'll not believe it.
But what care | how fair she be. if she
be not made for me 2 That's what the
old song says, isn't il? Look here now.
| join your hands-Pat has a pretty
hand hasn't he?-and give Won both a
brothers consent and blessing. VIII
that satisfy You, Rachel Cary? Giving
my heart away SO freely? But wouldn I
give You to anybody but 10y brother Pat