Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1890-12-05
me-not for YOU. ~ nnfline.

eus-for me-not for YOU" smiling.
As though to place temptation beyond he
reach, he seizes upon his hitherto discarded
hat, and with quite heroic air brushes 10
down upon his head, 10! even to his brow.
"Oh, you needn't lecture me about it,
says the Duchess, with little offended
glance from under her long lashes; land
you needn't put on YOUR hat like that.
am not going to touch you. don't wapo
to stick straws in your hair, believe me-
was merely doing it to please You because
Ohio says"
"Ohl confouhd Otho!'' intarpcses her
cousin, impulsively; and q second later iS
covered with confusion. What In Heavens
name Is the matter with him this morning.
What must she think of him? The enornity
of his misdemeanor is clear to him; but It e
not SO clear as to how he shall apologize for
it; how explain away his unreasonable
burst of irritation about what has, OF at all
events should have, no element of annoy
ance about it? Whilst stricken with re-
morse he is casting about him for some de-
cent excuse to offer for his conduct the
Duchess, striking boldly into the situation,
makes an end of it.
''You are cross" she says calmly, re-
garding him with judicial eye. "You
are indeed" with severe meaning, Eek
treInely queer altogether. Do you think
the sun is too hot for you, or the flies too
troublesome? If you think you are going
to have a sunstroke or-or anything Of
that Sort should be glad if you would
give me timely warming" 1t is evident
that she is rather disgustei with him.
II fling myself upon your grace's
mercy" returned he with smile that is
very imploring in spite of tho lightness Of
his tone. "If you will believe me / don't
know what is the matter with me-" This
is strictly true. 81 have I suppose, q
wretched temper, and lost it, md-'
"And very good thing, too" cries she,
gayly. "If it is so wretched as you say
you may be congratulated on your loss.
There, don't look SO miserable. / forgive
YOU"
at is more than deserve then BY and
by" taking the little hand he had so rudely
repulsed and tenderly smoothing it, ''you
will remember me only as an ll-tempered
fellow who"
mo! No, indeedW sweetly. "You
must not think that. Shall tell you some-
thing?' bending down and looking at him
with such lovely, earnest gaze. II like
you already-already, mind you-much
better than any one / have ever yet met.
Always excepting dad, Of cCSrse "
"What Better than Kigarriff?n asks
he, unable to refrain from this question.
"a thousand times betterp' frankly,
Though, indeed" with sudden contritidn,
''you must understand that am very fond
of Ohio, too"
Delaney, who is watching her with eager
eyes, signs impatiently, Oh, that she were
a little less frank, a little more reserved.
He would that he could have seen soma
faint hesitation in her tone, the Hghtest sifs.
picion of blush upon her pretty cheek.
But there is none-nothing.
And then once again comes the rush OF
memory, and with it the new fear and the
angry self-contempt.
Why should he wish her less frankt
What should be hoped from any newborn
shyness? Has he forgotten honor, every,
thing, in two short days and part Of a
third? 1t Is all mere touch of folly, q
veritable mid summer madness He will
fling the thought of it far from Eim.
But alasl alas! this is easier said than
done.
And in the silent watches of the sleeples,
night, when most things are laid bare ID
US, he knows that at last fair love has
caught him in its tolls, and that for veal OF
woe--nay, woe, for certainty!-he is
slave for evermore. At the feet of her whit
but few days ago was as nothing to HIM
his heart lies wounded-stricken-h opelesl