Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1889-06-14

ton, Wnlcn increased JOnn conIu-
sion. There was no one in the class
gladder than John when $50 came
and he and Mary stepped out into the
moonlight to go home They picked
their way along the sidewalk slowly,
cautiously and in silence. John did
not speak for two reasons. He was
oppressed with the thought that he
had been particularly stupid during
the whole evening, and he was re-
peating the sentence. Mary, let us
share our mutual woes" so that when
they stood beneath the light in the
little parior he could put his arm
around her and say it without blum
dering. Mary was silent with expec-
tation.
How brief a sentence would have
made them supremely happy
Johns observation-disclosures served 10
distract his attention from the icy
walk more than he should have al
lowed, and no less than half a dozen
times Mary's feet slipped, but each
time she found herself borne up by
her sturdy lover Each slip was ac-
companied with a little shrek, and
when she was again safe her soft laugh
was music to him.
\ group of boys pulling a sled
turned the corner ahead and dashed
part them. Mary turned her head
to glance after them. Her foot slip
ped, little shrek, and she was down.
But she wasn't alone. In falling she
had managed to knock Johns feet
from under him, and he had fallen
too. Each scrambled to rise quickly,
and their heads came together with a
sound bump.
John was in the throes of mortifica
ton for his awkwardness, when Mary
said naively, as he helped her to her
feet
I'VE seem to be sharing our mutual
woes
He was amazed. The very sentence
he had been saving for under the gas
light! Before he could take advan-
tage of his present opportunity, how
ever, Mary seemed to realize that she
had been iInmodest, and she talked
necessarily as they walked on, as if
determined that he should reap no
advantage from her remark. John
made several efforts to recall the OPP
portunity, but was baflied every time
Then he determined TO wait until
they stood beneath the gaslight, but
when they reached the parlor the
light seemed to burn more brightly
than ever before, and his courage de-
parted. Once he made an effort, but
the first word that came from his
lips was woes and the conscious
ness that he was blundering caused
him to blush and pause before trying
again. But sweet What were you
going to say?' completed his embar-
rassment, and he answered, Moth
ing and in despair prepared to go.
A moment later, as they stood at
the parlor door exchanging the last
words, and as Johns hand was on the
knob, Mary turned her blue eyes to
him and said, with laugh:
You'll be sure to get home with
out falling, for you'll have no one to
drag you down"
Johns face crimsoned. He was
about to protest she hadn't dragged
him down, when he thought Of his
lost opportunity after they had fallen.
He had n feeling that the sentence
he had been trying to say all the ev-
ening would be singularly inoppor-
tune now, but he was determined not
to lose another chance. Despite that
feeling and in sheer desperation he
gasped:
Mary, let us woes our mutual shares
always?'
Mary looked puzzled. For a mo-
ment she didn't grasp the purport of
the misquoted sentence. When it
dawned upon her flood Of crimson
passed over her face, her eyes fell, and
she whispered Yes"
And John, with a newly acquired
courage, put his arms around her and
drew her to his breast. Then John
was at peace and Mary was perfectly
happy. The question had been asked
and answered, and she had fittingly
blushed, besides waving the privi-
lege OF leap year.