The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1885-04-09


lesques. If had dreamed of your dis
approving, 1 wouldn't have promised to
sing; but l can't retract now"
''Not when l particularly request it,
Rue?"
"Indeed, no, John. l have the lead
| ing part. l can't refuse to act without
| offending Mr.. Lynde."
con the other hand, you can't persist
in acting without offending me.
"Now, John, do be reasonable. How
should | feel, announcing at the next re-
hearsal that l must be excused-Mr.
Coleman was not willing to have me
connected with the operetta! What
would Mr. Lynde think?"
.'Oh, if his opinion has more weight
with YOU than mine, l will retire"
| "John, you're too absurd. Can't you
soc how ridiculous it would look for me
to throw up my part the moment you
came home? People would say you
i! we're jealous of Mr.. Lynde."
! "The jackanapesr'
"And that you were a Blue beard.
John, I'm not sure, but they'd be right"
eff Pm tyrant, Rufelle, you're an
| amazingly fearless Fatima."
81 don't propose to be your Fatima,
John"
What did Rue intend by that? The
wrinkle in Mr. Coleman's forehead
dcepcned into a trench, his brown face
I flushed like an oak in October.
please lay aside paradoXes, Rufelle.
/ Do you mean you don't wish to marry
me! Rumor has told me as much"
In truth Miss Rue had meant nothing g
! of the kind, but her lovers insulting
/ hor int oil
it come to this that she could not wink
without first consulting his lordship?
Her blue eyes flashed ominously, the
steel hook in her fingers darted out of
her crochetng with murderous rapid
ity.
''Rumor has told me as much, - re-
peated Mr.. Coleman, as impressively as
if he had been addressing a jury.
And you let people talk about me,
John, and listen to what they say"
81 might have known that a girl who
would not respect my dignity could not
value my esteem. Tyrant or not Rufelle,
at least | have no desire to rivet CALLING
fetters. Henceforth you are free. to
smile upon Mr.. Lynde or any other gen
tlemen"
Had he omitted the last sentence, af-
fectionate, kindly little Rue could
even then have "made up' with John,
but this was to much for her temper.
Snatching the golden circlet from her en-
gagement finger, she flung it at her
lover, with cheeks af1ame.
"Take back your ring" cried she;
''the girl who wears it should be saint
or simpleton, and Pm neither. Good
bye, John;
Auburn head erect, chin in air, she
swept out of the room with all the state
illness possible to slight girl of five feet
two. She felt hers to be righteous in
dignation John had no reason-no
earthly reason-to treat her SO. She
the amusement of the village.
"John wants to bend the whole world
to his WILL" mused she, angrily, peep
ing through her chamber bind as he
stalked away chewing his black mus
tache: '.he wants to bend the whole
world to his will, and | won't be bent.
Our engagement is broken, and I'm glad
of it."
For full fifteen minutes she was un-
equivocally glad.
John Coleman thought that he too was
glad. Walking tiercely on. he squared
his broad shoulders, and told himself
that the engagement had been a mis-
take-an error of judgment. A grave,
self m ,dc man of thirty should have
been W ser than to trust his happiness to
5 the keeping of a gay, capricious maiden.
; Why had he been so dotingly fond OF
the child, so hoodwinked by her CO.
? quetries? Blind, dwelling idiot that he
was, the sooner he was buried again in
the law the better. The mans soul was
!; hot within him.
!. Shocked at his partners i'll looks, Mr.
Riggs in greeting him asked if he had
had chill.
eyes, something of that nature" wa!
the grim reply. ''How about the suit OF
ingalls, versus Wade? l find flaw il
the Indictment"
Mr.. Coleman was in the mood for find
ing flaws. His habitual self control had
deserted him. Once he nearly annihi-
lated Mr.. Riggs for casually mentioning
MIR. Lynde and his reported engage.
ment.
''Oho! | recollect now; Coleman had
a lien on the young woman himself
Queer l should have forgotten" mused
the discounted advocate, dipping his
pen in the ink.
That night Mr.. Coleman had chill
no metaphorical heart ague, but genu
inc physical, bone-shaking rigor that de
manded blankets and hot brick and 6
heroic dose of quinine.
'He's caught malaria from some oil
those Western bog holes" said the doc
tor aside to the landlord. ''Unless we
break it up, he's in for fever. See that
he has a good nurse. rll be roun in
the morning"
The landlord himself sat up with the
patient, and a busy night he had till day
break, when Mr.. Coleman sank into g
browse. The weary watcher improved
this opportunity to steal away for nap,
and sent his son to take his place by the
bedside. After an hours sleep the sick
man awoke refreshed, the ringing in his
ears greater, but the throbbing of his
temples less, the pain in his limbs lie
longer absolutely unbearable.
"Hcigho! that you. Harry?" he said,
catching sight of the boy munching an
apple for entertainment. "Where were
you when l came home last night?
didn't see you"
eat St. Marks, sir, blowing the or
gan Mr.. Lyndc has hired me for the
quarter"
"Oh, he has, has he?' Mr.. Coleman
turned over in bed, and scowled at the
smoky lamp chimney. Soon he Topped
back again "Do you like this Lyndt
, fellow. Harry?'