The Arkansaw traveler., 1889-07-20

" us but you arc different from the people here"
 "If my picture is not . success 1t will not be be- cause haven't given my whole heart to t."
 AltheA made no reply to this speech she did not seem to have heard it-her eyes were cast down In meditation. "You are sure you arc not in love with Bessie Pollard still1" she asked.
 "In love with Bessie why certainly not"
 "Not the least little bit9"
 "Not the least In the world" said Ralph.
 Why did everybody seem to imagine lately he must fall in love with Bessie Follard1 Ralph was thinking Althea certainly the strangest girl he ever saw when suddenly two soft hands stole into his.
 My lover," she said in thrilling whisper.
 Her head bent forward; the shadows had deep ened until among the trees, 1t was almost dark, but Ralph could sec her luminous eyes and tender lips as she bent toward him. My lover" she repeated.
 Her head was almost on his shoulder, the mag netism of her presence drew him nearer to her, and with no thought of the significance of his act he stopped and kissed her mouth.
 It WAS strange new happiness that Ralph felt as he held her In his arms. The first shock of prise was immediately followed by the revelation breaking in upon him that he had himself, all unwittingly, invited the confession of love which filled her heart. He saw his dreams of a life con- secrAted to art vanishing like morning mists in the summer atmosphere of this new born love, but the tumultuous throbbing in his breast left no room for sorrow or regret.
 
 down upon the unfolding romance-the same romance they had beheld for ages, and will behold In ages to come-the eternal drama of love.
 The next morning Ralph walked into the office where his father was busy preparing his saddle bags for visit In the country.
 "Father, have something to tell you. 1 have arrived at a decision"
 About what, Ralph2"
 "I have given up the thought of becoming an artist shall not leave Willow Greek now I wi afa hara nd g0 md vi 1icfu vou wish. l am engaged to be married, father"
 "God bless my soul! l congratulate you, my boy" said the doctor, warmly grasping his hand. "Who Is 1t Bessie2"
 "No, not Bessie Althea Ramsey"
 "Althea Ramsey the judges niece? Why, you sly fellow, didn't even know you knew her."
 Ralph was silent. He turned and looked out of the open window to the eastward, across the valley where the yellow grain was waving, far beyond the low wooded hills bathed in the morning light, and in imagination the blue waters of the Med iterranean, the orange groves of Sorrento, and all the groves of the VesuviAn bay. Between him and this beautiful vision there came the face of dark eyed girl-her words of last night sounding again in his ears. "You will never leave me, my lover l; promise you will never leave me-"
 The doctor was cycling him keenly "Look here Ralph, this doesn't seem like you. Have you gone and done any thing rash simply to bind yourself to resolution you dare not trust yourself to keep to please me, Rhph?'
 "No, father; I have thought only of my own happiness -mine-and another's."
 "Well, if that's the case Pm heartily glad of it." said the doctor. "Pl stop at the judges as come back and see if I can have look at my daughter in- law that is to be-"
 Jo McGregor stood in the doorway of his store one spring morning, looking up the street toward the little brick church into which all Willow Creek was pouring.
 "Ain't you goin' to the weddin', Jo3" called out Hi Stockman the grocer, from his place next door. "No," said Jo, al let the two boys go; "they're friends of R2lph's, you know, and Pm tendin' the that settled all Ralph's high notions" continued Jo. "It's wonderful what this fallin' in love will do, anyhow. Mebbe, though, as folks say, H. it's best 1t happened 90. Like not If he'd gone over to Europe-but look, they're comin' out of church" - RosfOn GLOhe