The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-12-15

tween her knees, crossed her small fee
before her, and, albeit still in his lap
looked the picture Of languid detection
"Maw ought to have more sense, and
ought to have lit out through the win
dow after me" she said with a lazy sigh
"Fightin' amt in your line its toe
much like them. That Seth's sure to gel
81 can protect myself" he said
haughtiIy. Nevertheless he had de-
pressing consciousness that his 1.-THE and
graceful burden was somewhat in the
way Of my heroic expression.
seth can lick you out OF your boots,
chile" she said with native abstraction.
Then, as he struggled to secure an upright
position, Don't get riled honey. or
course you'd let them kill you before
you'd give in. But that's their best holt
that's their trade! That's all they can
do-don't you see? That's where you're
not like HSm--that's why you're my boy
that's why love your
She had thrown her whole weight
again upon his shoulders until she had
forced him back TO his seat. Then with
her locked hands again around his neck,
she looked intently into his face. The
varying colour dropped from her cheeks,
her eyes seemed to grow larger, the
same look OF rapt absorption and possess
ion that had SO transfgured her young
face ut the ball was fixed upon it now.
Her lips parted slightly, she seemed to
murmur rather than speak:
"What are these people to us? What
are Seth's jealousies, Uncle Ben's and
Masters's toolishness, Paw and Maw's
quarr'ls and tantrums to you and me,
de0r2 What is it what they think, what
they reckon, what they plan out, and
what they set themselves agliust-to us2
We love each other, we belong to each
other, without their help or their hind.
rance. From the time we first saw each
other it was So, and from that time Paw
and Nav, and Seth and Masters, and
even you and me, dear, had nothing else
TO do. That was love as know it; not
Scth's sneaking RACES, and Uncle Ben's
shocking foOleries, and Master sneaking
conceit. but only love. And knowing
that, let Seth rage, and Uncle Ben daw.
die, and Masters trine-and for what2
To keep them from me and my boy.
They were satisfied, and we were happy"
Vague and unreasoning as he knew
her speech to be, the rapt and perfect
conviction with which it was uttered
staggered him.
'But how is this to end, Cressy?" he
said passionately.
The distracted look passed, and the
slight colour and delicate mobility OF
her face returned. ITO end, dandy bOy?"
she repeated lnzily. "YOu didn't think
of marrying me---did yOu"
He blushed, stammered, and said
YES" albeit with all his past vaciliation
and his present distrust OF her, transpar-
ent on his cheek andaudiblein his voice.
"No dear" she said quietly, reaching
down, untying her little shoe and
shaking the dust and pine needles from
its recesses, mo! don't know enough
to be n wife to you, just now, and you
know it. And couldn't keep house
fit for you, and you couldn't afford TO
keep me without it. And then it would
be all known, aud it wouldn't be us two,
dear, and our lonely meetings any more,
And wecOuldn't be engaged-that would
be TOO much like me and Seth over again.
That's what you mean, dandy boy,-for
your only dandy boy, you know, and
they don't get married to lakewood
girls who haven't n Niger to
bless themselves with since the war
No." she continued, lifting her proud
little head so promptly after Ford had
recovered from his surprise as to make
the ruse OF emptying her shoe perfectly
mo, that's what we've both al.
lowed, dear, allalong. Aud now, honey,
it's near time forme to go. Tell me some.
thing gool-before go. Tell me that
you love the as you used to-tell me how
you felt that night ut the ball when you
first knew we loved each other. But stop
kiss me frst-there once more-for
keeps"