Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-11-20


by ourselves. viii you do that H''
She did not hesitate for a moment.
"Ies, ii you think so If you wish it,"
she said
And so they went down TO the restaurant,
which was rather a big place, cut into
small compartments, and one of these
they had to themselves, for IL was but
half past twelve as VET and by-and-by
frugal little lunch was before them. The
novelty Of the situation was so amusing
to Meenie, at least--that for time 1t
drove graver thoughts away altogether.
She acted as mistress of the feast. and
would insist on his having this or that,
and wondered that he had not even tasted
Worcester sauce, and was, altogether ten
derby solicitous about him whereas he.
on the other hand wished not to be both
cred by any Of these things. and wanted
only to know what Meenie meant to do
when she went back to Inver Mudal.
But you must tell me what you would
have me do" she said, timidly.
"Well. don't want you to quarrel with
your mother and father on my account,
and be living in constant wretchedness
II they say YOU are not to write to me,
why don't write"
But you said little while ago there
would be no difficulty in our hearing from
each other" she said. with wide open
eyes.
II have been thinking about it. good
lass" said he "and don't want you to
I
in consequence. In the meantime you
must look to them; you must do what
they say By-and by It may be different;
in the meantime don't want you to get
into trouble"
'rhen it's little you know how this
will end, Ronald" she said, rather sadly.
II have thought over 1t more than you
| have. IL go back to lnver. Mudal pre-
pared to do everything they wish me to
do mean my mother, not my father,
/ lo,' - bat In ify1,f co V hnr
| 1t isn't only that, you will never hear word
from me. and that shall never hear a
word from you there's more than that {;
shall never see you again in this world. y
he turned very pale and scarcely know
ing what he did he stretched his hand
over the narrow little table, and seized
her hand, and held it firm.
81 will not let you 60 then. will keep
you here in Glasgow, with me, Meenie.
! DO you think can let you go away for
ever? For you are mine. don't care
who says ay or no; you are mine; my own
true hearted girl; the man or woman is
not born that will suuder us two
Of course he had to speak in n low tone;
but the grip of his hand was sufficient
emphasis. And then he said. regarding
her earnestly and yet halfhesitatingly;
There is one way that would give you
the right to judge what was best for your
self-that would give You the right to act
or say what you pleased-even to leave
your fathers house, If that was necessary.
VIII you become my wife, Meenie, before
You 90 back to Gnver- Mudal :"
She started, as well she might but he
held her hand firm.
1.-THE thing is simple. There is my
brother, the minister We could walk
over to his house, go through the cere-
mouy in Il few minutes, and you could 90
| back to your sisters. and no one he bit
the wiser. And then surely you would
be less anxious about the future and il
you thought it right to send me n letter,
you would be your own mistress as to
! that"
ITS terrible thing. Ronald ~
II don't see that. Meene, dear; Pve
heard of more than one young couple TAX
ing their fate in their own hands that
way. And there's one thing about it
it 'maks skker'.n
They had some anxious talk over this
sudden project-he eager, she frightened
| Until the restaurant began to get
crowded with its usual mlddle-da Gus
toners. Then Ronald paid his modest
score, and they left: and now. as they
made away for the western districts OF
the city. the day was clearing up some
what. and at times u pale silvery CLEAN
shons along the wet pAvements. And
still Meenie was undecided and some
times she would timidly steal look at
him. as II to assure herself and gain
! courage and sometimes sho would wist-
IuilS look away along tDlb DUSy SeuCtle-
hall Street. as if her future and all the
coming years were somehow at the end Of
, il. a. for him, now that he had hit upon
this daring project. he was eager in de
Tense Of it, and urged her to give her con-
sent then and there !; and labored 10 prove
to her how much happier she would be at
Inver MudAl-no matter what silence or
space of time might interpose between
them-with the knowledge that this in
dissolnble bond united them. Meenie
remained silent for the most part, with
wistful eyes but she cling to his arm as
If for protection &; and they did not hasten
their steps on their homeward way.
When they parted, she had neither
said yes or no but she had promised to
write to him that night, and let him
know ner decision. And in the morning
he got this little note-the handwriting
was not a little shaky, but he had scarce
~ time to notice that so rapid was the
glance he threw over the trembling line.
DEAR RoEALD,-If it can be done quite
secretly-yes L. NJ
The signature, 1t may be explained, con
sisi ed Of the initials OF pet name he hat
bestowed on her. She had found it first o
ali in some of those idle verses that he
now copied out for her from time to time
and she had asked him how he dared ad-
dress her in that way. while as yet they
were but the merest acquaintances. How
ever, she did not seem very angry.