The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1891-01-09
HER LOVE REVEALED.

''0f course, l shall never dare to
speak another word to her!' said Rob
ert Dale.
"But why not, Bobp Only tell me
why not?n cried out little Florrie.
climbing up the beams of the barn
loft. so that her head should be Just
on level with that of her tall broth
er, and clasping him around the neck
with both arTas.
Robert was tall handsome Young
athlete, nj that moment busy in mend-
ing one of the eogs of a steam-plough
with deft and ready touch.
His dark-brown hair hung in heavy
masses over his broad forehead; his
hazel eyes were full of latent fire, aud
there was a world of character and
resolve in his mouth and chin. One
might easily excuse Florrre Dale for
being proud of such a brother as
that
Don't YOU see, Florrie?" said the
young giant, gently putting away the
hands that interfered with the delicate
screws he held Il never asked her To
be my wife while she was poor and
dependent school-teacher here. How
can have the face to do it now that
she has inherited fortune?"
but you We're just going to ask
her, Bob-you know you werei"
.'Ah, but how is she to know it?"
why. by instinct, of course" de-
cided Fiorrie.
Dale shook his head with rather a
sad smile.
No, my little girl" said he. Il do
not choose TO be mistaken for one of
the great army of fortune-hunters.
rl
an end of IT, Its nv own fault
FIorrie burst into tears.
..Oh, Bob,' said she.
Robert Dale stroked down her sun
shiny head, not without a sparkle of
moisture in his own eyes but he
smiled wan smile nevertheless.
1--WE often read that pride was a
sim sobbed Florrie, .'bnt never
comprehended it before. Oh Bob. |
could almost hate You, if didn't love
you SO dearly"
And FIorrie scrambled down from
her perch on the beam and ran away,
with both hands clasped over her
face.
Dale looked after her
Poor Little darlingi" he said to
himself lit is but Il scratch on the
surface of her tender Young heart.
On mine Il is "A deep Ound scared in
with red-.:ot iron. God help me.
Itwas one OF those romances which
occur in real life oftener than one has
any idea of. Mabel Wayne was a
pretty young school-teaeher in Alb
bolts village, whose life of poverty
had suddenly been turned into riches
by the bequest of a distant and nearly
forgotten relative.
=.
golden dream. How often she had
built castles in the air. whereof the
foundation was, "If | were richi" And
now the dream had come true; the
pinnacle of the air-eastles were actu-
ally shining athwart the sky of her
life, heretofore such cold and gray
expanse:
And now, said Mabel to herself,
81 can fulfill all my hearts desires"
She took counsel with no one, un-
less now and then an hour with the
gray-haired old lawyer might come
under that head; she simply did as
she pleased.
'Hev' We seen the new house that
Mabel Wynne is buildin'?" said one
neighbor to another "Its reg lar
Aladdin's castlei With the trees all
cut away from the lake, and new
drives made through the woods, and
heather statters set up here and
there, and a row o glass houses to
raise furrin plants, and ripen grapes
and peaches before their time"
Il don't approve of no such no.
tions," solemnly answered the other.
TO my mind, it's clear settin' o
Providence at defiance. Grapes in
March! And orange-trees a-ilowerin'
the ground! Mark my words, there
won't be no good come of it,"
1t was bright September evening
when Mabel Wynne stopped at the old
Dale farmhouse.
Florrie rushed to meet her, and
greeted her with hugs and kisses in
Vulnerable.
Dear, dear Mayi'' she said; ''why
haven't you been to see us before?'
why haven't you beea to see me?"
| retorted Mabel with the piquant off
hand manner which was one of her
greatest charms. THAT is the ques-
ton. l should think?"
Florrie's eyelashes dropped; instinct
lively she turned to her brother.
Robert advanced to her rescue, offer
ing Miss Wynne his hand with an ex-
cellent imitation of composure.
Because, Mabel. your time has
been so much occupied" said he. y
told Florrie that things were changed
that you could hardly be expected
to have leisure to devote to her silly
prattle."
How did YOU know that things
were changed?" cried Mabel, with a
resentful flash in her violet-blue
| eyes.
My own common-sense told me
So"
''Was that the reason you haven't
been to see me?"
Zone of the reasons"
''Ohr said Mabel, with an indie
scribable intonauion of voice. anil fix
ing her eyes upon his with sudden
questioning glance, which he was but
| too thankful to evade by looking an
other way. That was all that you
cared for your old friend-eh?
elf could be of any real practical
use to uey old friend"
.c:EEou can" briefly interrupted Miss
Wynne.
"Tell me how, and l shall be at
/ your service.
Florrie put her arms around
friends neck, whispering softly:
This is like old times, MayI'