The Portland daily press., 1882-01-27
Hazel Kirke.
Paraphrased by the Chicago Tribune.

from "Knee-sprung for Love, by Murat Halstead.l
"Well Hazel, don't you think you had bet
ter shift onto the other knee for awhile?"
Hazel Quirk looked quickly up at Lord Tray-
erse Bay, the love-light beaming forth from
her eyes with a tender radiance that told moro
plainly than could any words the deep affec-
ton she bore him, but there was In the look q
pleading wistfulness, sense of trustful secu-
rity, that touched his very heart. She did not
speak, but placing dimpled arm aroand his
neck drew his face down and kissed him with
a soft, melting, three-for-50-cents kiss that she
kept on tap only for him, and then her eyes
shene forth again the love that her lips could
not utter, while the dropping iuouth quivered
as if in pain.
"You are not well, darling" laid Percy
Hanafin This weekday name) In agonized
tones, the words nearly choking him as he
spoke. "Let me bring your viniagret, or
bottle of seltzer-a quaf or two Of that would
revive you"
But Hazel only laid her head on his shoulder,
wound her white arms around his neck and
began to sob as if her heart would break,
''My God! Hazel what have done to cause
speak, and tell me wherein the fault lies.
Demand of me any sacrifice, no matter how
great and it shall be cheerfully made. have
q large red apple in my overcoat pocket, and
it shall be yours-all yours, If you will only
speak "
Slowly from the shoulder blade rose the lit
tie head with its mass of brown curls, slowly
turned the pure, beautiful face of Hazel Quirk
until Percy again looked down into those eyes
that had so lately beamed forth merry glancoE,
and saw once more the little nose that had so
often burrowed in his vest. you will surely
keep your promise?" Hazel asked between the
conv1lsive sobs that seemed TO be breaking her
heart and seriously disarrangiDg her liver.
"Of course will, my sweet" replied Percy
''You shall have the APPLE"
"And is it a really and truly red one?" asked
the girl, again sobbing as If her heart would
break.
eyes, my love-"
"Hope to die if it ain't?"-this between the
sobs.
"Criss-cross?"
eyes, dear"
"Weip'-and here she broke down afresh,
but finally mastered her grief and spoke
f'Papa has soaked the mill"
s'Whatl" exclaimed Percy in tones OF aston
ishment, soaked the mill that has been his
home so long?"
"Same MILL" replied Hazel, wringing out
her handkerchief and fishing up dry one
from the sleeping car of her polonaise.
"Well, that is sad indeed" said Percy, "but
what matters 1t to us?''
''Ahi you do not understand" )" sobbed the
GIRL ''you do not drop"
"Why, what do you mean, Hazel? You have
concealed something from me, else why this
juggling with words?"
II mean, Percy" said Hazel, in low, bitter
tones, "that the mill is mortgaged, and that
am to pay the debt"
'sWhat my Hazel collateral security? It
cannot must not be!
tBut it is" was the fearful response.
81 care not" exclaimed the young man.
"You shall not be sacrificed. will marry you
tomorrow and thwart this vile plan OF Jim
Rodney's.''
s'Yo1 will?" said the girl, looking at him
eagerly and jumping lightly from his knee.
"I will"
The little head fell on his shirt-front with
dull thud.
Hazel had tainted.
Placing her carefully on a Iduteui, Lord Ira
verse Bay kissed the tear-stained cheeks and
started out to borrow dollar and a half from
his mother with which to get the marriage-li-
cense AS the sound of his footsteps died away,
Dunstan Quirk entered the room whore Hazel
was lying. She rose as he opened the door and
smiled family.
''Did you give him the racket, sis?" the old
man asked.
eyes, papa"
"And did he fall into the metz"
s'I should smile, replied Hazel.
"Suckers are pretty thick this Winter, nay
child,' said Dunstan Quirk, "and you're the
girl that can land them"