Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1884-11-08


tree I think she looks a trifie like
your son, Ned, only, of course, hes not
done in Kensington. Well, / was plan
ming that once in awhile, on very grand
occasions, you might take me out with
you"
.sO7sce in schile, MADAME The
Major was vast substantial protest.
sOh, / know, of course, what you
think you have to say. But don't do it.
Besides, we couldn't leave Ned behind
uery often. A lurking laugh in the
corners of two brown eyes. ''Or, he
might go with Aunt Maria, ehp Oh
o-o-oi"
The Major couldn't see anything
funny in that commonplace arrange
| ment.
my dear Miss Margery''-(C onfound
those chairs! A man couldn't move
them an inch without getting red in the
face, they were SO heavy. )-''you are
surely determined to defraud me of my
share of the conversation, though can
not tell you how relieved l am to find
you prepared to receive my overtures.
confess there were moments when |
feared you might be less fond of me
on account of the disparity of our
ages
why, goodness, it wouldn't seem
half so lovely any other way! That's
Just the incest part of itr' How that
presumptuous freight clambered up
from her little feet to the dimples in her
hands and the rosy folds about her
neck, and, climbing still, stopped at
her roster lips! Her last sentence, and
the freight stopping right there,
where it did, made the Major gasp.
| 'sThis is one of the most delightful
| surprises of my life, he went on, when
he could speak. Il want to tell you
how fondly shall cherish you; how
earnestly | shall strive to crafty each
wish that you can make; how truly
proud shall be of my beautiful young
-,
''Oh, stop! You praise me more
than | can ever deserve" Two limpid
tears showed through the gathering
gloom. II never dared hope you would
receive me so tenderly. am a-coming
right over there, strand right behind
your chair-so-on my tip-toes, and
put one-little kiss-like Mat!-on your
dear old forehead"
The Major grew more agile than he
had been for twenty years. Meanwhile
Poll had got to screaming lord! lord!
lord! lordr' and would not leave off
"Oh, yes, I'm so thankful you like
me! And Wen all be so happy togeth-
er, won't wep And we both are CRATE
full, | assure you. Here's the ring he
gave me. See! Two beautiful pearls,
and that twinkling diamond Doesn't
it look charming in the freight? Ned
said-don't think me silly for telling
you-that if you were satisfied with the
little wife he had chosen he believed he
would go half mad with joy. But really
| didn't think he'd tell you so soon, for
| he felt little timid about it.. A long
pause, during which the Major relaxes
his fatherly embrace somewhat. Then
venture from the girl: .'I'm afraid
I've talked too freely with you! Or per-
haps you feel sad when you remember
Ned is going to belong to me?n The
to dtut now, ''But We'll live somewhere
near you and see you every day. Why,
must You be going? Can't you stay to
teaP Well, button up your coat well.
Now, please give your new child one
more kiss to tell her that you mean all
you have said Good-bye! Good-byer'
Lord! lord! lord! lord! lord!'
How that bird screams. The wind
has risen very fast, and the pines strike
at each other angrily. There is a
promise of dismal rain, and the dusk
hides all of the autumn's beauty and
leaves only its leaflessness apparent.
Sixty-five, sixty-five! At that age it
is hard climbing hill in the teeth of
the wind!-Elia W. Peattie, in Current.