Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1888-01-21

"You might marry either Of them to-rnor-
row, if you cared to hold up your little
finger; I can see that"
"What nonsense"
ooh. its { ~ c.,os,-,> - DO c~iai
Then 1 shan't hold up my little finger"
That's right" he said; and he actually
drew along. deep breath, as though it relieved
him to hear me say no; ''for that capitalize a
pompous old noodle selfish party, who's
stuck to my telescope a whole week-and the
railway man would fdget any woman out Of
her life in . fortnight"
What's tho matter with hians'
Hes an old woman, that's al.n
~ pom my honor, you are very uncompi-
mentary IN your verdict upon my dodgers"
~ hate your keeping q lodging house, y he
muttered.
MY poverty and not my will c~onsents,"l
answered.
He was very silent for a long time now.
The visitors had hurried homeward, or had
sought shelter liko ourselves, the band had
ceased playing, the rain was coming down in
earnest.
"May I ask a favor Of you before go Jack
to Londona" he said suddenly and very
hoarsely.
"Nhat is itF'
vii you say tyes'r'
"Not till I know what it is about I re-
Piled, with spirit, certainly not"
"Well, then" he cried, 'don't give me
back that little bird I carved. You said you
would, and it has been preying on my mind
that it will come Aging back somo day when
l least expect it and so upset me terribly. I
want it hanging on our wall, to remind you
OF me sometimes, you know; being a bird
like me, you SEQ, it must. And though our
acquaintance did not commence auspiciously,
still you have forgotten and forgiven.
haven't yous"
"Wel-yes-almost.'
"And youth keep that little carvingf"
perhaps I will"
"Bles you, Jane-Miss Neild, I mean.
And now
l was getting alarmed at his vehc.ncnce,
and very much afraid of what he would say
..cxt. jumped up.
II think l will go home to Lily. She's all
lone, poor girl"
"Dut it's raining cats and dogs
II don't mind tho rain, and I'm fond of
It; and dogs" l said, tripping from tho
letter end struggling to open the umbrella
:hich Lily had lent to mo.
10 You have caught cold in the rain before
low" he SAID, dryly; ''do stop q few minutes
longer"
"No,"1 said, shaking my head, 81 would
rather not"
"liere, let me manage that thing for you,
aen, no said, making a dash at tho umbrella,
'.@nins it ana holding it above my heud, IF
oaln"st run away; but yol,l get very wet"
Nv got my Waterproof"
eyes, but-oh, Lord.'
"Nhat is tho 1nattcrW l exclaimed, as he
| -4 1rpaI corv rn ! orJ 49,, - :,,I n $500
Ia Oh the fort, only now he looked at mo as
+ were q ghost and my spectral appearance
.ad frightened him.
Ho did not reply at once, and 1 cried:
"Ol, what is the matter! Aren't you we'll,
Won't you tell nlci'
Us all right; that is, l shall be all right
i Il minute, he answered, il quite o new and
narl tone Of voice; "don't mad me-"
Nv. !at can it bel"
IL tell you it's nothing, Mss Ncild," he
hid. Don't take any notice Of mo, please. l
ID rather you didn't"
1t was a strange request, but I did not. 1
laiatained a rigid silence, being u little net
al presently at his own silent movements at
y side his steady stare ahead of aim, the
iii expression III his face. He marched
.oaS in SO grave md dumb q fashion at last
nat could have slapped his face for him.
that did he mean by such behavior, 1 VOL
tered! AT the end OF the jctty ho brourit
ny heart into my mouth by suddenly roarinr
,ut:
NO, I'll never believe It'll It's ma.ic, it's
! lying dream, it's anything but tlis! l can't
believe it of you; I'll r,thcr jump into the
sea than thiai Of it for another moment"
"Think WHAT Good gracious, WHY do IT
| Tou TIL IleN'
"Think that you have deceived me ell the
1ime. You, too, OF oil t:,n los Of thcua!'
"What have [ done, Mr.. E.rd"
'This this u:abrclla," he cried. .
"Wcll?"
''lt-it's tho unbrc'!a l dioprcI down your
req! LILY fathers present; l caa swear to il
anywhere. They're ray initials OF that silver
collar, g. b. GA! heaven and earth, to
fancy for ono instant that you-Miss Neild,
[ am going raviug mad. Lool; at it, look
at i'll"
stared from him to tho umbrella. which
he bad thrust into III Lands, and felt & iag
mad myself. loo!.cl so terribly mean and
guilty, aal yet I was so perfectly Innocent,
and | Gid not want him now to have one
thought against me. was confused; I did
not know how to explain; I fcl. too indi;-
aant il the midst Of nj grief even to try to
explain; for he should not have jumped to
conclusions in this way, but have waited,
and then l burst into tears.
"Ol, pray don't cry" he called out, 'for
fnercy's sake, don't, Jane: I don't care about
lac umbrella now, l don't mind your TAX
in-''-
"lts-its not mine!" Iscreamcd out ct last,
at was lent me by Lily Brian, because she
thought it-i:-it would rain before l got
,o:nc. Thcre!'
Thank God! What an awful thief she is
or one 50 young" he cried. II ain SO ire
mendously glad, though, so awfully clad'-
"Ta!se yonr umbrella" I cried, pitching it
at hiin; land I'm glad it's found, too, verv;."
~ don't mean I'm glad Two found It, but
that you
allow dcre you suspect me Icried, sweep
Ing majcstically away from him, but he fol-
lowed mo and held the umbrella over my
head again, and overwhelmed mo with hur-
ried AID incoherent apologies, which [ DO
cliued to accept.
Perhaps it's not ,ai.c." he said at last.
"Pray be rational, Miss ..;cild. ~ stands for
Brian as we'll as Bird. Is Mr.. Brian's Chris
tian name George, do you thin.:f'
Don't speak to me. Tou know it's your
umbrella"
at is a little like it, he said, dismally.
Il don't want any miserable cvasions, Mr..
Bird, and l never want to sec or speak to you
again, and r.
"Why, jenny, what's the matter?: cried
Lily Brian, s-ldenly appearing round the
corner OF the street, and under another UNI
brcl!a, ard with a shawl over her arm.
where have you becnl Ma was afraid you
wanted more wraps, and has sent me out
with them, and-how dye do. Mr. B;rds