Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1882-06-10

"May I come ?" he whispered tC
Lea.
And she, with faint blush now OF
her lovely cheek, answered, "Yes.
Within two days he was again
claimant for Uncle Silas's hospitality
This time Lea, too, extended to him 1
welcome half sweet, half shy, which
rendered her in his eyes more bewitch
ing than before.
The days passed and still he stayeC
on. The game were unmolested IL
their haunts. He suddenly developed
a preference for fishing, for in these
excursions Lea could accompany him
What was this leading him ? In his
heart of hearts was set code of honol
pure and spotless as the stars. Fl,
knew he could never tarnish it. Bu
sometimes he fancied Lea was learning
to love him and how would it be wher
he left her? One day he asked her
"Will you miss me when l am gone
Positively next week must go back tC
town."
eyes, I shall miss you," she replied
He noticed her cheek was coloyless.
1t smote him with quick, contrite pain.
81 had best go now," he said. "Lea,
in all my life / never so longed to be a
rich man, that / might let my lips say
what my heart has already said"
Indeed !" she answered.
The cold cutting, infection of the one
word, repeated now, recalled to him the
first time sbe had thus answered him.
1t almost maddened him.
LEA" he said in sudden impulse,
81 love you. Be my wife -
81 said that would like to see you
tried" she murmured.
"You have been but trying an exper-
iment, then-making my heart your
toy?"
"Nol II think [ care for you a
little; but you are carried away by i'm
pulse and a momentary infatuation.
You would regret this later"
"My darling, it is but poor home a
soldier can offer you. But you shall
never want for anything my means can
give you. Oh, Lea nothing could be
sacrifice which was for your dear sake.
Will you marry me, darling, and make
me the proudest, happiest man on the
face of the broad earth?"
81 will promise nothing" she an
swered gravely; land l insist that you
consider yourself in no wise bound by
honor to repeat these words Let us
part for six months. If at the end of
that time you still love, come and tell
me so.
"Six months y he exclaimed, impa-
tiently. "Six eternities L9a, this is
cruel"
But she stood firm.
81 will put them to good use then,
dearest" he replied, "in paying off old
debts and making no new ones. But,
meantime, you will write to me-"
"Not word, not line. wish the
lesson in memory or forgetfulness to be
complete"
Remember, then, that in December
next [ come to claim my Christmas
gift"
1--WE are both free," was all that she
would cay.
And thus they parted.
To Jack Loring they were the longest
six months he had ever passed. With
each day, each hour, he loved with a
depth and passion surprising to him
self.
The snow was piled high on the
mountains as he mounted the hill and
knocked at Farmer Silas's door.
Lea herself opened it.
How beautiful she looked but he
noted in some surprise that she wore a
costume of dark-green velvet, bordered
with rich fur. He had never seen her
before except in the simplest gowns.
Lea" he said, II have come p and
he held ont his arms.
"And l am ready !" she answered,
and hid her face upon his breast. "You
are sure quite sure you are not max
ing a mistake ?" she asked a little later
He silenced the doubt with kiss.
"You are extravagant, little one, he
said, pointing at her dress. 81 am
afraid we'll have to make it last long
time. Where do you go to get your
wonderful style, Lea? No matter what
Partisan art"
II always import them," she an
swered, demurely. And then both
laughed.
That day, standing in Uncle Silas's
parlor, they were married by the village
clergyman.
Just after the ceremony, before they
started away, Lea put into her hus-
bands hands paper. at is my Christ
mas gift to you," she said.
"What do you mean, darling? You
have given me the sweetest of all gifts. "
''But this comes with me" she in
sisted.
1t was legal document setting forth
in legal phrase Jack Loring's legal claim
to draw, with equal right and interest
with Lea Loring, his wife, all income
derived from an estate valued at $780,
600, belonging to Lea Danemore, by
will of her deceased father, in her own
right.
The man turned deathly white, but
two soft, clinging arms crept about his
neck.
"You won't love me less because it's
yours and not mine, she said. 81 only
meant to try an experiment, Jack. You
know Uncle Silas and Aunt Hannah
are no relations in reality of mine. But
the summer after papa's death L was
very i'll and came here for quiet, and |
learned to love it so that this year J
came back. That is all. Will you for
give me that l tried you? l don't think
| should have had the courage but that
] was so sure that you would meet the
test"
But though, to do Jack Loring jus.
tice, for tine moment he was more sorry