Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1885-09-12

penitently: 1T am afraid I hay
been to blame, but tomorrow I wi
leave you free to spend the Who'll
day with your books, for Cousi
Joe has promised to drive me owe
to Dapleston to do some shopping
"Hang cousin Joe"-
.."Mr. Dorsey!" from Martha's as
tonished lips.
81 beg pardon, I really hop
you will have a delightful time
Miss Duncan. I assure you [ shal
a-enjoy it. immensely being left t,
my books and-conf0und it! Elk
cuse me +"
And before Martha could reply
rau1 DorssoT; had left tbs room.
"How queer it ISL soliloquizet
Martha, as Paul'S departing foot
sTsteps echoed through the hall. :"
n'tsseerwhy be should dislike Jos
$50 sJoesis; always sue ID q fayorite
s@itkrse every enc .zII hEope 4 haVen',
offended lin. I am sure [ didn't
mean tor And with rather a puz
zled look upon The, fair young face.
Martha closed the organ.
That evening as Martha stood
down by the meadow gate caress
ing old Doxey, the mare, her quick
ears caught the familiar tread ad
vancing toward her, aud d moment
after a voice exclaimed;
II am an idiot, Miss Martha, but
II hope you will forgive me. |
couldn't bear the idea of his
monopolizing you all day. l know
you could never think Of'an old
bnokworm like myself-still IL
have been very happy, and forget
sometimes tlat-that there is such
a difference between u.s." 80
Martla's cheeks had been. grow.
ingrosier and roster, while astrange
wild joy surged through her veins,
as she answered, her tones tremb-
ling slightly.
"Since l can remember Cousin
Joe and [ have be- i;laymates, and
since father died he has been so
good and kind to mother, helping
her about the farm and in every
way, that he has become like Il son
to her, and as dear as a brother to
me. Dear Joe! / don't know what
we should have done without him."
She paused, the tears gathering in
her pretty eyes. Paul drew nearer
then hesitated, as Martha contin-
ued:
"Joe is engaged to my dearest
friend, and they are to be married
in just six weeks"
II am awfully glad. mean /
wish them joy, and all that sort of
thing" aud Paul Dorsey advanced
still nearer the little figure into
whose eyes a sweet shyncss had
stolen.
martha, do. you think there is
a ghost of a chance for mes AS it's.
my first attemptat anything of the,
kind, perhaps you will sun it -.
..IIGntslatlY. and make m.I-seEg1lesh We
courage from MarCna's half averted
face, and the extreme pinkness of
the one visible ear, he laid his hand
caressingly upon hers, adding
"Martha, do you think you can
forgive me for--for loving you7"
"Why should L forgive you for
what / have done myself'D came
the low answer, followed naively
by. "But I did not know it until
to-day, when l thought I had often
ded your
"And and you don't mind my
being odd--or anything7" STAN
cred Paul, in his excessive JOY.
"You are not a bit odd," was the
Indignant reply and Martha touch
ed shyly the coat-sleeve in close
proximity 70 her waist, whereupon
she Immediately disappeared from
view, and from somewhere in in the
region of Panl's waistcoat pocket
a lnuf11ed little voice might have
been heard calculating:
ooh, Paul! suppose somebody is
~ hope they are" was the auda-
cious reply, succeeded By a second
on Martba's part.
n
A week or so later a stylishly.
dressed, middle aged lady was sit
ting tete-a-tete with Mrs. Duncan,
who was observing:
"Dear me, Lucindy, you've no
call to thank me. / had nothing to
do with it. Not but what I am real
pleased that your son aud my
should come together; but
had no more thought of it than
yourself"
A slight smile stirred the lips Of
Mrs. Dorsey as she remarked:
"You are just the same as ever,
Mary. Well, if Martha only turns
out half as good woman as your
self, am satisfied that Paul has
won a treasure
"And he'll never forget, mother,
that he owes that treasure to yon,
for if you had notscnt him to seek
out your old friend he'd have re
a bachelor to the end ofhis
ilays,n interrupted masculine
voice, while a glrlish treble exclaim
ed, ooh, PAUL" the rest of the sen.
tence being forever lost by Paul
daringly sealing his betrothed's
lips with his own.