Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-09-24

cry, gerry happy, VIII earnest. uphill
ed eyes.
darling lowell am afraid l must give
you up to Mrs. O'COnnor now," he goes on,
presently when an ecStatic thought or two
has had time 10 come and go. But, before
going. say goodnight to me here"
Goodnight, Brian"
He has never attempted to kiss her since
that first time (and last so far in the or
chard; and even now, though her pretty
head is pressed against him, and her face is
dangerously close to his, he still refrains.
He has given her his word and will not
break it; but perhaps he cannot altogether
repress the desire to expOstulate with her
OF her cruelty, because he gives voice to the
gentle protest that rises TO his lips.
That is a very cold goodnight" he says.
"Y GU would say quite as much as that to
Kelly or any of the others.'
II shouldn't call Mr.. Kelly by his Chris
tan name"
No; but you would ROnayne."
well, [ sha'n't again, if you don'tlike it."
''That has nothing at all to do with what
mean. l only think You might show me
little more favor than the rest"
Goodnight, then, dear Brian. Now, I
certainly shouldn't dream of calling Mr.. Ro-
nayne dear UIic.''
deedl But still-there is something else
that you ght do for me-"
Miss Beresford draws herself Iittle-a
Uerg litte-away from him, and, raisingher
head, bestows upon him glance that is
charming combination of mischief and CO..
quetry. A badly suppressed smile is curv-
ing the corner of her delicate lips.
What a long time it takes you to son itp'
she says, Wickedly.
At this they both break into low, soft
lau 5hter,-deIiciOus laughter! that must
not be overheard, and is suggestive of a lit
tie secret existing between them that no
one else may share.
THAT IS ali invtation,' says Desmond,
With decision. Il consider you have now
restored to me that palTy promise | made
to you the other day in the orchard And
here l distinctly decline ever to renew it
again. No, there is no use in appealing to
me; | am not to be either sofeenrd or CO.
creed"
Well" says Miss b resford, ''listen to
me-" She stands well back from him this
time, and, catching up the tail of her white
gown throws it negigently over her arm.
IF You must haVe-yOu know what at
least YOU shall earn ii. | will race YOU for
it, but YOU must give ne Ing odds, and
then it you catch m9 before | reach that
laurel down there, YOU shall have it. Is that
fair?"
Plainly, from her eNutant look, she thinks
she can win.
IA bar-aiu!' say d, >l:iond. ''And were
you Atalanta herself, | feel | shall Outrun
you.
so presumptuous! Take care. Pride
go2th before destruction, ard a naughty
spirit before Il fall, and you may trip"
Il may not, TOO
~ ell moving cautiously away from
him, when | come to that branch there,
and say one, two, three, yOu-WilI-- NOlO?"
Al this, before lie is half prepared, she
cries, zone, two, three" with a scandalous
haste, and PUSHES away from him down the
mOOnlit path. Swift and straight as a deer
She flies, but, alas! just as the goal is all but
reached, she finds the race is not to her, and
that She is prisoner in two strong arms!
Now, who was presumptuous?" says
Desmond, gazing into her lovely face. Her
head with touch Of exhaustion about it, is
thrown back against his chest; through her
parted lips her breath is coming with pant
ing haste, born Of excitement and her fruit
less fight. He bends over her, lower, and
lower still. She feels herself altogether in
his power.
LAS you are strong, be mercifuI," she
whispers, family. A warm flood of crimson
has dyed her cheeks; her smile has faded,
she struggles slightly, and then all in one
moment Desmond becomes aware that tears
have sprung into her eyes.
Instantly he releases her.
Darling, forgive me-" he says, anxious
ly. "See how your heart is beating now.
and all for nothing! Of course | shall let
you off your bargain. What do YOU take
| me for? Do you think l should make you
| unhappy for all the world could offer? Take
| those tears out OF your eyes this instant, or
shall be-serlOuSly angry with you"
Monica laughs, but i'll rather nervous
fashion, and lets her lover dry her eyes with
his own handkerchief. Then she sits down
with him upon a rustic seat close by, wish
ING to be quite mistress of herself again be-
fore encOuntering the glare of the drawing
| room lamps and the still more searching
light of her friends eyes.
For a full minute not word is spoken by
either of them. She is inwardy troubled;
he is downcast. Presently she rises with a
little restless movement.
No. do not stir just yet" she says. 81
only want to pick some of that syringa be-
hind you; it is so sweet"
Disinclined for action Of any sort, he obeys
sits there waiting listlessly for her return,
and thinking somewhat sadly, how small a
way he has made with her, and that she is
almost as shy with him now as on that day
by the river when first they met.
And then something marvellous happens
that puts all his theories and regrets and
fears to flight forever. Two soft arms
surely the softest in this wide glad world
steal round his neck a gold brown head is
laid against his; whisper reaches him.
You were very good to me about thdtr'
says sOmebOdy, TREMENDOUSLY: and then two
warm childish lips are laid on his, ana Mon
lea is in his arms.
Il wonder what it was that frightened
you" says Desmond, in a tender whisper,
drawing her down on his knees and in
folding her closely as though she were in
form the child that verify at heart she still
is. Tell me-"
II don't know" She has twined her bare
beautiful arms around him, and is rubbing
her cheek softly up and down against his in
a fresh access of shyness.
II think you do, my dearest"
''It was only this; that when | found
couldn't get away from YOU | was frighten-
ed 1t was very foolish of me- but when
ever | read those stories about prisoners of
war, and people being confined in dungeons,
and that, L always know that if were made
. captive l should die"
But surely Your lovers arms cannot be
counted prison, my lifef'
Yes, if they held me when I wanted to
get away"
But reproachfully, would you want
to get away?'
She hesitateS and, lifting one arm, runs
ho;r