Smyrna times., 1891-12-09

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around them. Candace blushed, but
knowing that this was no time to an.
pear fastidious, she quietly submitted
Then he placed one edge of the two
remaining quilts upon the cushions in
such manner that her weight secured
them when she was seated.
He next took from the bed a rubber
covering which fitted over the dash
board and buttOned to the bows.
Climbing in himself he took his place
beside the girl, and drawing the quilts
across his knees, tucked them tightly
under him on the other side. Next he
fastened the lines securely, saying in
explanation that the horses knew the
road to Kingdoms, as he was fire.
quent visitor there.
Without the slightest warning he
then threw his arms around the
beautiful girl and drew her closely to
him.
"Mr. Blackburn p demonstrated Can
dace. us this really necessary ?"
10 save your life, yes. l would do
the same were you a man. have done
so frequently. Go on ponies, get up,
get up!"
You know only submit to this in
order to"
Preserve your life. Am 1 then so
very odious ?"
Now, did not mean it so at all.
You are very good to me, but really.
Mr.. Blackburn, it cannot be imperative
that you hold me so tightly. One
would almost think that my death
would affect you somewhat"
1T would"
These two words revealed all to the
quickwitted girl, and she buried her
lovely face deeply in the quilts in order
to hide her bushes.
They talked cheerfully on for some
time, his tone becoming tender in spite
of himself, until he CHANGED to mention
her fathers fortune.
why, have you not heard?" she
asked, lifting her head in surprise.
Heard what, Candace ?"
"Of our misfortune" she replied.
dropping her eyes quickly at his tone.
Indeed have not"
Our riches are swept away. Com
Portable we still are, but wealthy, not
at all"
= THANK God )" said Blackburn, men
tally. "Now, if can win her, l feel
free to do so. That is very unfortun-
ate" he added, aloud but a lady
with the beauty of Candace Roger
may be wealthy at her pleasure"
Don't Mr.. Blackburn, l do not like
to hear such things from you. You
never used to compliment me, re-
member. But, indeed, 1 am very
sleepy"
SLEEPY ~ shouted Blackburn, shak-
ing her roughly.
"Oh, don't be alarmed" she replied,
smiling: II am not cold, merely
fatigued."
"Are you quite sure the fatigue is
natural ?"
quite"
"Then go to sleep if you can. It
will make the time seem shorter,
which is, l have no doubt, your most
earnest wish"
Then came an experience to Oliver
Blackburn that happens to a very linn
tied number of young men, we must
say. The lady he loved went soundly
to sleep in his protecting arms. Not
ON ab OhNCF VI COuI6Cs 4n6E6 WHIG
those curious little jumps and starts
with which the mind loses control of
the body, the halfsighs the sleeper in
voluntarily heaves, and at last the
total relaxation of the muscles which
comes with dreamless slumber.
Blackburn held the yielding figure
closely in his arms and gave free rain
his fancy. Surely she has been more
kind to him this night than ever be-
fore, but was that, under the circum-
stances, any indication of her feelings ?
He felt more light-hearted than before
she came, for now he was her equal.
and dared offer her a home. And if it
were her intention to remain at King
don's for any length of time, what was
to prevent him from driving over every
pleasant day and relieving her monot-
Ony-and his own? He would be
careful, and could not fail to conquer
were she heart-free. But was she
heart.free9
Aspasm ofpain shot through him as
this question presented itself, and he
involuntarily frightened his arms
around his charge. Then he parted
the curly locks and gazed earnestly in
her pure, innocent face as it rested
trustfully upon his breast.
"She always seemed disdainful until
now" he murmured, bending over
her. Then now, did it happen? Prob.
ably without the volition, his lip light
lystouched her brow.
She was aroused at once. Perhaps
he had so stirred the covering that the
biting winds could touch her cheeks /;
perhaps the archer Cupid had carried
to her mind the tidings of loves first
caress at any rate she awoke with a
full perception of his exploit.
You presume upon my condition!"
she cried, lifting her scornful eyes to
his.
He saw nothing but those two bright
orbs gazing fearlessly upon him, and
his face blanched to a sudden white
ness. He could not see that lovely
mouth whose nervous twitching belied
her words, or his answer might have
contained less dignity,
II beg your pardon. I will never
do myself the honor to kiss you again,
Miss Roger, unless you ask me to do
So"
There was a touch of sorrowful re-
sentiment in his tone, and though the
last words were almost audible, Can
dace heard them. Like ice under the
ardent rays of the sun, thus did she
melt from her counterfeited dignity.
Then kiss me at once, Oliver" she
whispered. II quarrel not with my
preserver."
"Oh, Candace I"
Now, Oliver Blackburn was no fool,
though the reader may feel inclined to
doubt the fact, and this time his NOUS
ia che did not touch her forehead.
"Candace," he whispered, "when at
the station, you asked me if were
alone, and ! answered all alone my
words held sadder meaning than You
guessed. Shall / be so in the future Pr
"YOu know my answer, Noll, she re-
piled. why should / repeat il ?"
II have sufficient to build a cottage
near the station, and-hellO What
are the horses stopping for? Well,
well Can this be kingdom az j
thought it was at least Ave miles
ahead"
A few months subsequent to the fore
going events, three persons stood in
the parlors of Henry Kingdoms dwell
ling. One of them read a short time
from mysterious book, then solemnly
pronounced few mystic syllable, and
GanNaQa R0uar .uoo Nc,I,oo nI..I-