Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1885-01-29
HIS LITE LOVE.
snowy January afternoon.

the snow blowing across the whitened
fields, and heard the sweep of the wind
among the leatle's branches and against
the window-panes.
A gentleman of about thirty stood by
the window, one arm resting on little
shelf, and eyes bent on the girlish face
beside him. He was not handsome, vet
his was face one would look at with
rs much or with more interest than il
the features were as perfect as Apollo
own.
The eyes and mouth were full of pow
er, the former especially, wonderfully
expressive, and, as he spoke now, full
of easy, quizzical regard.
"Ale you afraid of me Miss MarionP
Do you think l shall prove tyrannical
or lenient GUARDIAN"
IL am not the least bit afraid of YOU,
sir!' the young lady called Marion an
severed, in cold busincss-like voice,
looking him in the eye.
Not afraid? How strange!" he
said, the smile around his mouth deep
ening.
''Do you generally inspire those who
meet you with awe, Mr.. Vann?"
IL am lawyer he replied. there
fore blessed with second sight, OF course
Not only do we Judge by the outward
evidence of the thoughts in a clients
heart, but the inner working of the vi
tai organ is an open book to us. Your
thoughts now
He paused.
'Well?" she asked impatiently.
"Are not flattering to me. You con-
slider me an unmitigated bore, very cold
nj IL
You long for the school left behind in
the South, where days like this were
unheard of and where the college stu
dents dedicated ilowery sonnetsto your
beauty"
The girl flushed and darted a quick,
angry glance at him from the dark eyes
under the little tissue veil strapped
across hernose.
You are pleased TO be sarcastic"
she said, with little sneer and shrug;
but Of what matter is it? If it amuses
you, sir, it amuses me infinitely more.
am not afraid of your satire-neither
do like your
Jerome Fann raised his brows in I'M
feigned surprise.
She was so petite, so childish in APP
pearance, despite her Is years, and the
open luminosity she expressed was so
novel;. 1t was all refreshing, and he
watched her amusedly as she went to a
distant corner and buried herself in "A
novel, to the complete exclusion of h M
self. ~
All he could see beneath the book was
pair of extremely lovely red lips, and
those he watched steadily, scarcely
aware of it. Five minutes passed, tick
ed lowly of by the clock in the empty
wait no room, and brown curl appear
ed above the rim of the book, then one
curious and brightly angry eye, which
met his and disappeared. like flash.
jerome laughed. lie knew that, by
that outburst of mirth, he totally lest
all vantage ground with her, but he
could not help it.
Still smiling, he walked slowly to her
side.
do not. free e met ne said pathet-
ically, holding out his hand eve must
be friends you know.
Not at am" she said coldly. Il am
absolutely sure we shall never agree
Better begin as we shall surely ond!'
You dislike meP'
Il have said so!' she answered, turn.
ing the leaf.
s'And whyP Because have been un
fortunate enough to have unwittingly
offended youP''
You have laughed at me. l do moi
know what name they give that in the
North; but, in Virginia, we should cal
that unmannerly.'
IF have been so, Miss Romero,
sincerely beg your pardon" jerome
said, stiffiy, and retired to the window
TO whistle the Exile of Erin" in mos
distracting discords, until the trair
pulled in.
Jerome sat by the library fire, ciga
between his lips, his hands clasped idly
his eyes almost closed.
Hewas listening to story which in
terested him.
A Younger man was also sitting b,
the fire, cane in his hand, and hi
chm resting on the top of it. He wa
very handsome young fellow. and tn
freight playing on his head, turne'
his hair to gold, and made the intense
earnest blue eyes seem black.
Il have loved her from the begin
ming" he said, slowly. Through al
the past months have loved Mario
silently; now / will tell her of it, wit
your permission, and learn my fate
Better ultimate rejection than this sus
pense. e.r
Ned Burlington, you love IN
wardP' jerome asked, calmly. and n
evidence that his heart was beating lik
boys could be seen in his face. "fo
love her truly, you say9"
IL dol Upon my honor!' Ned re
piled. THAT surely is not strangt
Could man, seeing her constantly, q
have done, not lose his heart to herr
You know, of course, that she wa
left fortunep'' jerome asked again
in the same quiet way.
II have heard so. Perhaps, indeed
it is the only thing to be regretted, fo
love her, and have abundance fo
both, Ned answered regretfully.
Her guardian stood up, and his fac
ut is no longer TO be regretted: Ma
ion has nothing! In The recent faiiur
she lost il all!'
"Allr' the young fellow echoed, an
there was silence.
s.Marion is very proud, Jerome col
t,nued. 'If she knew thai she was nc
absolutely Independent of my boun'
she would not stay an hour longer ~
meath this roof But, poor child, ~
need never know; at least, until ait'
she has been married. -
The deep, expressive voice cease