Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-07-24

averted face turned toward the. dying
sunset.
When he had finished she did not
answer.
''He takes too much for granted"
she thought; che is too masterful; he
asks as though my heart was some
light thing to which he had a right.
l will teach him il is not. 4"
She rose and turned TO go. He
caught her hands and detained her.
wilma, are you not going to say q
wordP Are you then the coquette
almost thought you that first dayP"
His words stung her. She tried TO
free herself and the rose fell from her
hair. He picked it up
'If you won't say anything, Wilma,
give mo this rose. Let it be a symbol
of hope to me"
She snatched it from his hand.
when am ready to answer you,
she said, Il will send it TO you" And
then she slipped away and hurried to
the house. A spice of romance had
always been part of her nature. Now
as she fitted away she touched the
senseless flower with lips that trem-
bled
II do love him-I do love him, "
she whispered as she sped along the
shadowy path through the garden.
But the girls willful heart was slow
to yield. A week passed.
Ronald Mitchell came not once to
the farm house. Rebecca Mortified
wondered at his absence and looked
searchingly at the quiet-faced girl.
One evening she came into the quaint
old room, with its shopping roof and
lattice window, where Wilma sat read
ing.
II thought I'd tell thee, Wilma,
that Ronald is going away tomorrow.
He is tired, he said, when / met him
to-day, and needs change. He doei
look worn. / wonder why he keep
away from us?"
She looked keenly through her gol
trimmed glasses at the girl.
IL don't know, grandmamma, J. n
sure. He does act strangely of lat ,.
Will he stay away long, do y,u
thinkp"
"a month, he said" she answered..
The girl drew u quick breath. "a
month, she thought. 'In month i
shall be back in school,
Her heart beat quickly. A iter
awhile she took little box from her
bureau and went downstairs and out
into the garden.
She called to Don, and wandered
down to the messy log beside thu
creek. She had been here every day
since that time week ago.
She sat down on the log, ami Don
sat down beside her, looking glavely
at the running stream.
She drew a little folded note, from
the box in her hand and opened ii.
Come to me-" it said, and then in
delicate tracery her name, wilma
That was all.
The girls eyes shone half mjscEiev-
ously as she fastened the tiny box to
Don's silver collar with bit of rib
bon, and bright color glowed in her
cheeks.
Then she folded her small hands TO-
gether and looked seriously into the
| dogs great, noble eyes.
Good old Dom, she said ''take il
to Ronald-to Ronald-do you under
stand?"
He looked up intelligently into he1
face and trotted off sedately.
Ronald Mitchell was in his room
alone. One by one such articles as
were necessary were being packed into
his travelling bag.
A sudden patter on the stairs arrest.
ed his attention, and the 1ext moment
familiar black head was thrust
Wrought the half-opened door way.
why, Don, old fellow! Come tc
say Goodbye What's this?"
He unfastened the little box and
opened 1t. When he had unfolded the
slip Of paper and found the witherec
white rose, he sprang to his feet. Then,
| to Don's amazement he bounded down
the stairs and out into the summer
twilight the grave dog followed at hi.
heels.
He found her on the messy log be.
side the creek looking expectantly
toward him with the shy. sweet glow
of love in her dark dyes and on hei
face.
Only Don was the witness of thai
meeting, but when q little later the
happy lovers wandered up the sweetly
scented garden, cool and shadowy in
the cleaning and grandmamma came
TO meet them with glad surprise and
q look of calm ccntentment in hei
serene face all thoughts of the project
ed visit were banished, and the half.
packed travelling bag lay forgotten or
the floor at home. Harriet Francene
Croker.
Odd and Wall. hIa Roolru..rIr