Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-13

\
its lid.
'Not . bit I am Just getting my swing "
'Isn't it wonderful to be so strong7 You
always remind me Of a steam engine"
"Why . steam engine?"
"Well, because it is 80 powerful, and -.
liable, and unressoning. Well, didn's
mean that last, you know, but-but-you
know what I mean. What il the matter
with your"
"Why7".
"Because you have something On yssz
mind You have not laughed once.
He broke into grewsome laugh. Il Am
quite jolly" said he.
''Oh, no, you are not. And why did you
write me such dreadfu1ly stiff letter." :.
'There, now," he cried. IT was sure II
was stiff. said it was absurdly stiff J"
'Then why write lt?''
SIT wasn't my own composition"
"Whose then? Your aunt's?'
ooh, no. It was person Of ths-nsms OF
| Slattery."
''Goodnessi Who Is he9''
! 'T knew it would come out, I felt thst Il
would You've heard Of Slattery, the su-
thor?"
"Never."
"He is wonderful at expressing himself
He wrote book called The Secret
Solved; or, Letter-writing Made Easy It
gives you models of all sorts of letters"
Ida burst out laughing $50 you actually
copied one"
''It was to invite a young lady to a picnic,
but set to work and soon got it changed so
that it would do very well Slattery seems
never to have asked anyone to ride tan
dem. But when I had written it, 1t seemed
50 dreadfully stiff that had to put little
beginning and end of my own, which seemed
| To hriO .
81 thought there was something funny
about the beginning and end"
"Did you? Fancy your noticing the dif.
ference in style. How quick you srei I
am very slow at things like that I ought
to have been . woodman, or gamekeeper, or
something, I was made on those lines.
But have found something now"
"What is that, then?"
"Ranching. Ihave chum In Texas. snd
he says it is q rare life am to buy . share
in his business It Is all In the open Dir,
shooting and riding and sport. Would it
would it inconvenience you much, Ida, to
come out there with me?'
Ida nearly fell of her perch In her
amazement The only words Of which she
could think were My goodness mel" so she
said them.
eff it would not upset your plans, or
change your arrangements in any way"
He had slowed down and let 90 of the
steering handle, so that the great machine
crawled aimlessly about from one side Of
the road to the other. 'I know very well
that am not clever or anything Of that
sort, but still would do all can to make
you very happy. Don't you think that in
time you might come to like me . little
bit?"
Ida gave cry Of fright. IT won't like
you if you run me against brick wall,
said she, as the machine rssped up against
the curb. EDO attend to the steering
''Yes / will But tell me, Ida, whether
you will come with me-"
"Oh, I don't know. It's too absurd. How
can we talk about such things when can
not see you? You speak to the nape of my
neck, and then I have to twist my head
round to answer"
81 know. That was why put You in
front upon my letter. thought that it
would make it easier. But if you would
prefer it, will stop the machine, and then
you can sit round and talk about it. %
"Good graciousr' cried Ida "Fancy our
sitting face to face on motionless tricycle.
in the middle Of the road, and all the
people looking out Of their windows at
us!''
SIT would look rather funny, wouldn't
1t? Well, then, suppose that we both get
of and push the tandem along in front Of
us?''
"oh, no, this is better than that"
"Or could carry the thing"
Ida burst out laughing. THAT wouldbe
more absurd still.
''Then We will 50 quietly, and win
look, out for the steering. I won't talk
about it at sll if you would rather not But
really do love you very much, and you
would make me happy if you came to
Texas with me, and think that perhaps,
after time conld make you happy, too
"But your aunt?''
"Oh, she would like it very much. can
understand that your father might not like
to lose you. I'm sure wouldn't eithe., if
I were he. But after all. America is not
very far of nowadays;snd it is not so very
wild. We would take grand piano, and
and-a copy of Browning. And Denver
and his wife would come over to see us.
We should be quite . family party. It
would be jolly"
Ida sat listening to the stumbling words
and awkward phrases which were whis-
pered from the back Of her, but there was
something in Charles Westmacott's clumsi-
ness Of speech which was more moving than
the words of the most eloquent of pleaders.
breath between the words, and he blurted
out in little blunt phrases all the hopes of
his heart. If love had not come to her, vet |
there was at least pity and sympathy, which
are nearly akin to it Wonder there was
also, that one so weak and frail as she |
should shake this strong man so, should |
have the whole course of his life waiting for |
her decision. Her left hand was on the |
cushion at her side. He leaned forward and |
took it gently in his own. She did not try
to draw it back from him.
"May 1 have it," said he, ''for life ?''
"Oh, do attend to your steering" said
she, smiling round at himj ''and don't say
sny more about this to-day. Please don'tP'
IsWhen shall know. then?"
"Oh, tonight, tomorrow, 1 don't know.
I must ask Clara Talk about something
else"
And they did talk about something else;
but her left hand was still enclosed in his, |
and he knew, without asking again, that ali |
was well
CHAPTER VI
Mrs westmacott's great meeting for the |
enfranchisement of woman had passed over, |
and it had been triumphant success But !