The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1889-06-15
OUR ROBIN.
CHAPTER VIII.


never love again"
"Umph!" mutter Harry, II hope
you may be mistaken, Bee Bee. If
some sensible girl would only
take him in hand, it would be the
making of him."
sand do you mean to say" I
return, rather Indignantly, "that, if
died, you would marry some one
else; or-or-supposing you died, l
should ever dream of doing any
thing but sorrow for you to the end
Of my aays?"
'Look here, little woman" SAYS
Harry, placing his strong arm
around my waist, what is the good
of supposing this or supposing that?
If anything ever should occur to
shorten my days, it would not make
me any happier to think that my
death must cast gloom over the
whole remaining life. We have but
one short life allotted to us in this
world, and we owe it not only to
ourselves, but to our fellow-mortals,
to make that life as so innocently
bright and happy as we can"
"You don't love, or you never
would say such dreadful thingsp 1
say, almost weeping.
"Not love you'll Bee Bee, look me
in the face and say that again if you
dare" says Harry. II love you
with all heart, little woman; but I
am no dreamer. My calling is, of
perhaps all callings, the most pre-
carious, and you are to sensitive for
anything; if my ship"
"Oh, Harry, how dare you, dare
you say such thingsp I cry in
agony, and placing my hand over
his mouth to stop the utterance of
further horrors.
Harry does not dare. He calls
himself all kinds of unpleasant
names for having touched on such
a gloomy subject, then we leave the
shelter of the of the ash and wander
about the grounds.
About halfway to the summer
house a most amazing tableau
meets my eyes-under a sweet
scented lime-tree, sits Robin an a
little messy mound. By her side
Jack is reclining in an attitude
Of the grertest ease and content
ment.
While Harry and Jack are ex-
changing civilities respecting the
weather and crops, I bend down
and whisper into Robins ear
''Is he reading to you out of one
of those dreadful volumes?"
"No, indeed" answer my friend,
with an upward glance of sly
triumph. "He reading 'Evangeline,'
and, what is more, he reads uncom-
monty we'll"
81 had no idea that you cared
for pathetic poetry" I say, little
scornfully.
swell, Rome was not built in
day, you know" confdes Robin,
still under her breath. "In week
| dare say he will be reading the
Pickwick Papers.
| give an unbelieving shake of
my head, but do not fatty contra
dict her.
1t turns out to be- just as we'll that
l held my peace, for again Robin
proves herself a true phrophet. Not
only does Jack make acquaintance
with the pages of Pickwick, but he
frequently joins US in our daily
walks and drives, and even goes SO
far as to volunteer himself as escort
to some amateur theatricals.
Robins visit of a month steals on
into eight weeks before I can bear
to hear her departure mentioned.
Then however, her friends in the
north grew clamorous, and as her
visit cannot last forever, we are
obliged to bow to the necessity of
her departure.
Aunt Louisa, who had looked for
ward with dread to her advent, is
overwhelmed with sorrow at thought
of losing her.
81 am sure" she confides to me
with a doleful shake of her head
everything will get back into its
old groove as soon as she leaves us.
John will shut himself up in his
study again and you will take to
alternately weeping for Harry and
gazing moonstruck out of the win
dow"
/ do not quite coincide with this
gloomy view of matters, and yet |
feel that much of the brightness
which prevades the house will leave
US when Robins merry and often
playfully hooking laugh ceases to
echo through the rooms.
On the morning of her departure,
she takes me aside for a few
moments, and says, with CLEAN
of fun in her hazel eyes
"Bee Bee, do you feel yourself
equal to a shock-a thorough gal
vanic battery?"
''Is it anything about Harry?" I
ask breathless.
"What should / know about
Harry, you goose! No, it is some
thing which concerns Jo--, your
brother"
'Has he been digging up those
books again?" l ask, still unsus-
picious.
"Of course not" answers Robin,
flushing slightly. "But, Bee Bee
now don't be too much startled
but-he has asked me to marry
him."
asked you to marry himl I'm
possible!"
"No, it is not impossible; why