Daily Republican., 1880-04-09

II "Queenie, dear, DR.. 0ersham, is 90
ling TO leave rs next week. He will re
turn TO his former homo In Virginia.
do mot suppose We shall ever 600 hin
Iasain." .' @
She ceased abruptly, for oueenis,
dropping her duster, had vanished,
with @ flushed facs and quiverine
mouth; and . moment after Mrs. Hyde
heard the seund Of the girls chamber
door as It closed behind her. The
lady raised the duster and went on
with the work, while significant
smile hovered about her lips.
"Slrspge childi She loves him, and
will not confess II, though there Is not
the shadow Of reason why she should
not"
That afternoon, Queenis, wandering
alsng the piazra, came upon Dr.. G
stretched at full length ON ssttee.
he appeared to be sleeping, and Quoenie
paused to looked at him, showing, for
once, all her earnest little soul in tho
expression OF her eloquent eyes. She
bent over him, her cheek flushing, her
breath coming quickly. end
DR.. Gersham, lying in half dream,
felt the pressure Of q warm, tender
mouth full on his. He opened his eyes
suddenly, and saw Queenie's white
dress just fluttsring around the corner
Of the house. He went up 70 his room
quite happy.
"shs loves me-" hs said, with q qui.
o. smile. And he remembered her
words OF . few months before: "The
man whom I kiss Of my own free will,
will be my future husband" DR.. Ger
sham laughed ssstly 70 himself, "Ah,
my little lady, you and ! will have .
reckoning this evsninsI'
But he was mistaken, for Queenie
was missing at tea.tlme. Mrs. Hyde
informed him that she had gone 10 visit
q girl friend In the village and Wsuld
not return for several days.
Not until the evening before this
DOCTORS departure for the South did
she make her appearance, and it was s
very solemn little face that he COW
when no Sonfrsnted her in the June
twilight and led her into tho garden,
where the old apple tres was dropping
Its lintei blooms. Little Queenie seemed
suddenly TO have lost his ROBUSTNESS
and self possession, and looked the
very picture Of shame and discontinue,
with her crimson face and heavy lid
dsd eyes. The doctor evidently had
no idea Of letting heres ,aps him.
''Qusenie, am going u tell you
about q strange dream had tho othe,
day"
81 guees--l think-that II, auntie
will want me now" she stammered,
looking wistfully toward the house.
"Au~tie cannot have you now, be- |
oauSs I propose to keep You nyself, at
least, until relate my dream and get |
ysuE opinion of II. You must know
that was asleep on the piaGza, and II
seemed though somebody kissed me
with two sweet lips, and furthermore,
I dreamed 1t was the same little girl
who made the remark some time ago
that the man thus favored would be
her fu urs husband"
He paused, holding both her hands
In his, and looking Of her crimson,
dropping face. o Queenie, Queeniei
how your face did burnl And how the
DID apple tree seemed 70 whirl about!
And hsw your heart did pound In its
prison, trying the best IL knew how 10
make It's yoisS hoard In that dreadful
lilenesl
"Queenis," the Doctors laughing
voice was softened and tender rs he
lsew her 10 his arms, where she was
,lai to hide her hot face on his broad
"little Queenie. don't be
Of loving. 1t is Gods sweet
'st gift to his children-the capacity
or affection. Think how long you ,
ave played at GROSS purposes with me,
lsrling. might have gone away to
he South without TIN satisfaction II it
lad not been for that lucky kiss. All,
hat reminds mel will take another,
I you please" II
He was laughing again, now, aud
lueenio clung 3 little closer to him
sith q quick gesture. "
"ob, no, mol" I cannot, I never can
gain" lE
"Yeu must get used to II; lady bird,
nd you may as we'll begin 10 practice
low." He slipped ring from his :
1atoh shain-s diamond, with o quaint
old sstting-and put It on her slender :
,rs. finger. "This was my mothers
ing, Qussnie," he said, reverently. .
She died years ago. will give II to
on as token Of my love-"
She turned her cheeks to his with a
,ovement that was scarcely . oaress, O
was so seft and timid, but she did NOT u
peak. Z
"Now, dear, I will take that kiss,
nd then I will 60 for I have an en- =
segment at the village. Next fall ! 4
hall return from Virginia 10 claim my A
tile wife. Come, will give you Just p,
NO minutes in which 10 kiss me of
our own free will, just as you did on Il
ae piasza."
He drew out his watch and waited.
'ueenie, standing before him, laughed =
ervously, and flushed and tremblsd,
ill hesitating. Never was there
lore timid, bashful creature; now that
40 was fairly conquered she dared moi a,
zen lift her eyes to his face.
"0ne minute more," said the doctor,
adding watch In hand, like grira fate.
"Oh, deari" Queenie gaspsd, and vi
'cked about her fearfully, as though gu
he was about to do something dread
il; and then suddenly lifted two very