Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1889-10-16

even while she raised her little head
almost defiantly, as though to hnrl q
challenge at his audac;ty. Men had
made love to her in many forms, but
always as suppliants. This man dared
to suppose her in equal danger with
himself? ~ i
You deal in riddles, Lieutenant
Fleetwell," she returned coldly. Il
am accustomed TO plain speech"
Rather say that plain speech is to
you an unknown tongue, and that !
am the first man who has dared to
speak frankly. Would you have me
speak palmer still? You Shall have
your wish. A week longer under the
same roof with you, a week more of
exposure to your destinations, and my
ship would go to wreck and ruin on
the bar; unless"-hc leaned nearer,
his voice grew softer, more full of
tender feeling, and his hand fell on
hers very lightly, but with caressing
grace-"unless, Dorothy, you would
let It float your pennon and guide it
into the safe harbor of your love-"
She had been wooed many times, in
many chimes, by many men, bat moth
ing had ever moved her as this WOO.
ing on this moonlight night in Octo-
Der. Yet this soldier-.this man
dared to tell her that in another week
this all might come to pass.
QOthers had sworn to go from her
presence to put an end to the ex-
istence she had rendered miserable, or
had vowed that henceforth woman's
smile would be- gall and wormwood,
or pleaded that she had shorn their
manhood of its strength and rendered
their life a burden
This one did none Of these things
While his strength yet was his he saw
and met the danger.
"A week hence" she said to herself,
bitterly, land the fame might SINCE
him. Now his wings are al! un-
scorched. He does not say: 1 love
you! In time might love youn
| Was he then to win so easy a victory?
! Never"
LET us go home" she interrupted.
in constrained voice. 1T is grow
ing chilly"
dorothy, is this my answer"
Your answer" with an assumption
of surprise. Il was not aware of any
question:
You shall not have even this ex-
cuse. Will you be my wife?'
His voice was hoarse and stern. and
his grasp frightened on her hand.
You hurt me, Lieutenant Fleet
well,' she complained, petulantly,
making an effort to withdraw her fin
gers.
Instantly he released her.
Il see that hurt you," he returned,
courteously, and took up the oars
pardon me-" he continued, Il will
not do it ever again.
A few bold strokes and the boats
keel grated on the shore. Ten min
utes later the two reappeared in Mrs.
Hurlton's beautifully-appointed salon.
On the parterre beyond shone the red
light from mans cigsr. 1t was still
there, still cleaning when she had
gone up to her own room. She crossed
to the windew to pull down the shade,
but stood minute, fascinated, motion
| less
AFTER tonight he will forget me-"
she murmured. sadly. And IL
shall remember him-forever!"
Then, as though a sudden truth had
burst upon her, she drew down the
shade to throw herself with a quick.
impetuous motion prone upon her
| couch and weep the first heart tears
she had ever shed.
| 1T is all over-Miss Viner has re-
fused him." This was the general
verdict when twenty -four hours later
Jerome Fleetwell babe his friends
adieu, and withdrew to town on plea
of sudden business.
The news soon reached Dorothy's
ear Il have not refused him." she
said aloud; mot even that satisfac-
tion is mine," she said to herself
NOR ever will be! 1t was only the
might have BEEN"
He was not a man. she knew full
we'll, to plunge desperately into flirta-
ton, or associate his name at once
with another woman's, or to retire
later or rise earlier or in any way dis
| turb the even tenor of his way. The
difference between them was only this
his heart was healing, perhaps al
| ready healed, but he would bear its
scar to the grave; hers was fester-
ing sore, which hurt the more that
she had let the physician who might
work its cure pass her by.
The summer wanes to close. Au-
thmn had touched the mountain and
hillside into glorious beauty of
brown and red. Then came winters
tagging footsteps, mercifully bearing
the exquisite white shroud of snow to
cover up all signs Of devastation and
decay.
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