Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-12-13

evening, "but, > she said to herself, bit
terlv, "he hahn thought about me tire,
minutes, because his head is so full o
that horrid firt. She don t care for hin
more than for WORKOUT shoe. It'
scandalous the way she goes on.
Stella cut specially exact circle be
fore she replied to Lydia speech. Their
she said:
81 supposed the front seat was thu
place of ho-or, Miss Adams
"fou supposed Well, I've hac
enough of your supposin'.n famed gu
Lydia. 81 know what you supposed
well enough. You got me up on tha
front seat coming down. You maze hin
for Lydia there was but one Kim in the
universe them skate with me all thu
evening. and you thought you would
make him think | was running after hin
while you were hanging back modest
and shy. know your tricks, Miss Ed.
gerton, TO t. Then to-morrowy OF
would carry on, on that wood sled, when
there wasn't anybody around, till YOU
had him just wild about you again.
That's what you've been doing all win.
ter. Most girls would be ashamed to
make themselves town talk that way
but it seems some folks amt. But
won't be made a cat's-paw of 10y any.
body. He shall know that took the
back seat of my own accord. Here's one
little scheme you can't make work, sc
there"
Stella's impulse was to strike the girl.
Her hand clenched as a mans does at an
insult, and tears of rage sprang to her
eyes. AS soon as she could control her
voice, she said:
Lydia Adams, you are beside your
self You are crazy to imagine that be-
cause you care for Reuben Smead every
other woman does, too. 1 wouldn't
marry him if there wasn't another man
on earth; but if you dare even to think
the things about me that you have said
tonight | will make you more miserable
than your ugly tongue will ever have the
power to make anybody. You may ride
on which seat you please. shall walk
home, but l shall ride to school on
Rauben Smead's sled Just 40 often as he
chooses to ask me. All Stonevills may
see it, and any scholar who chooses to
jump upon the sled may hear every word
either of us say"
Stella walked home and slept soundly
afterward, but she woke determined to
walk to her school. Befose it was tine
to start, however, Reuben appeared at
the door with Dan, colt that was
coveted by every man in Stoneville, and
his best cutter. Stella saw the cutter
with misgivings, but she realized that
there was nothing to be gained by delay,
and she accepted Reuben's invitation.
Reuben was in his Sunday clothes, and
had a self-conscious air that was more
suggestive than the appearance of the
fast colt and the cutter. Before they
had driven forty rods he began to twist
in his seat and cast sidewise glauceS at
Stella, who gazed persistently at the
road ahead. Reuben struck Dan savagely
with the whip, and when he had pulled
down the mcttlesome colt, he stammered
forth.
"Wha'-what you mad at me bout,
Stella2"
SIN not mad at you, Reuben"
"Whoa, Dan, you fool! What you
jumpin forl Go stiddy, now. What dc
you treat Ire so, for, then2 Shuckin
me off onto Lyddy Adam, an not skatin'
with me oncel I'd like to know what
you're drivin at, anyhow"
81 haven't meant to treat you badly,
Reuben. But l thought that you thought
there was some reason why | should treat
you differently from other men, and
and-there isn't"
Stella spoke with some hesitation, but
she brought out the last words firmly.
/ Reuben, whose earnestness had given
him a certain dignity SO far, famed into
anger,
81 should like to know what you call
reason" he began. "Hain't you rode to
school on my sled every mornin' since
snow few2 Hain't you ben to skatiu'-
bees with me, an to singin school
twiceln
"What else could 1 do, Reuben9
Wouldn't you have driven any girl that
boarded in the house to school just as YOU
have me2"
"Not by long chalk, l wouldn't"
'sDo you mean to say that you would
have let another girl walk through the
drifts when there were three horses stand
ing in the barn."
"Waal, mebbe should have druv her
stormy days, but not the way hev you.
I've wasted lots of good workiu' time
| gallvantin' you pack aud forth.
This reused Stella's anger, and she
flashed back; I'm pay you for your
time, them l certainly don't want to be
beholden to you."
GOOD land, Stella, l don't want
your money! don't want anythin' in
the wide world but just you! If you'll
only marry me I'll be so good to you you
wouldn't know me. wouldn't be such
still, awkward chap if | had you 30
talk to always.
'I'm very sorrow, Reuben, but can t
marry you. 1 didn't mean you to ask
me this. l didn't dream that you would
take my just being PLEASANT this way; in
decd, didn't, Reuben"
The colt was unusually fractions this
morning. Reuben's excitement thrilled
along the reins as though he had been sn
electric dynamo and they copper wirc.
After a brief silence, during which
Reuben steadied Dan to a sharp, swift
trot, he asked bitterly, "Why can't you
marry me? If I'm good enough to 60
sleign-ridln' with, why amt goCl
enough to marryl"
sob, dear, why won't you understand
It isn't question of goodness at all, but
l don't care for you--in that way"
: "Youve ben mighty slow fndin' out
Just what way you did care for me. y
sneered Reuben. 81 seem to have ben
mighty handy to have round"
"It's cowardIy of you to say that, Reu
ben Smead. l never treated you differ
entity from what | should any man alive.
1t was copceited of you to imagine ]
cared for you at all, and it's-ungentle-
manly for you to sit there AMI tell me
So.
Reuben's face was white. He leaned
forward and rained blows on Dan till the
colt kicked and plunged in protest, and
tue cutter flew through cloud of fine
frozen snow. ''I'll be even with you for
7 IL