Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1891-04-30


striding across the lawn with the swing
Of trooper, halted suddenly not ten feet
away and lifted from his shanelv head a
hat baaied heavily with Grape. The
next instant he had hurled this aside,
stepped quickly forward, utterly ignor-
ing pussy's hostile guise, had thrown
himself on one knee beside the ham
mock, and the dropping mustache al
most swept the soft, white hands as he
impetuously seized them.
Georgia" he whispered.
Heavensl what start! In her wild
CONSERVATION she recoiled from his
touch, striving at the same instant to sit
erect. Hammocks are not made for
combinations so eccentric. The next
instant the fiimsy thing had slipped from
under her and she felt herself going.
Drowning men catch at straws: drown
ing women seize the hand they would
have Stunned. But for his sudden
spring, but for prompt clasping arms,
she would have gone headlong to the
ground on the opposite side. For min
ute she was held in close embrace, a con
fused mingling of dusty braids, Of throb-
bing fenininity. of hotly blushing, tear
wet face, Of cool linen lawn and clinging
hammock netting. Then her hands re-
gained their cunning and found his
broad shoulders and she pushed herself
free, and then hysterical laughter came
to her aid and the shaded grove rang to
peal that, if not merry, was at least
irresistible, and at last, as she sat there
restored to equilibrium and striving to
regain her whirling senses As he stood
patiently bending over her, half praying
that the inspired hammock might yet
attempt some new freak, she glanced up
at him through smiles and tears and dis
ordered bangs only to say.
''How utterly absurdl'
To which philosophical remark he
youchsafed no reply whatever.
1t is full minute before she RECEIVERS,
even partially, either breath or self
possession. Then she holds forth her
hand, and he assists her to rise.
''This is not the welcome should give
you. Shall we 60 to the house,
But even as she asks and her eyes
glance nervously, shyly, up into his face,
she knows he will accept no invitation
that will peril this tete-a-tete. She sees
how the lines have deepened in his
frank, soldierly face, and that sadness
not all of his recent bereavement has
left its traces there. She would lead
him from the shaded grove to the par
lor, where the lamps are already begin
ming to twinkle, but he will not bulge
one step. He stands confronting her.
mo! have come solely to see you.
Is there any reason why we cannot stay
here moment" And she can think OF
none Oh what infamous fate that he
should have found her weeping-bathed
in tearsl
II hardly thought to see you at all,
especially after-the great-sorrow Of
your father DEATH" she falters, her
heart leaping and bounding despite her
effort to be calm.
Il am taking mother north, he an
swers simply. 1T was cruel blow to
her and a hard one to me. It was all
over before l could get home. Mother
viii spend the summer with her sister
on the st. Lawrence, but she has to rest
in Cincinnati until tomorrow night. |
left her with old friends this afternoon
and came out here to find you. must
go back this evening. And now have
you no word Of welcome for me? Did
you not know that would come, loving
you as / dor
What answer can she make? Her head
is dropping low, her hands are clasped
together, her bosom heaving, her breath
futtering away, and yet how wild a joy,
how exquisite a hope is throbbing in her
heart of hearts!
Georgia speaks impulsively, his
deep voice trembling made me
accept your answer then and bear my
bitter disappointment without a word;
but / have borne it too long now. Had
you been at the other end Of the world
must have followed you, for the longing
to see your dear face, to hear your voice,
to look into your glorious eyes, has over
mastered me time and again. had to
come, and now will hear what it is that
I stands between us. God knows my love
and honor have been yours long, long
\ year. God knows there can be no con-
tent or JOY for me if your answer be
final. You have bound my life in yours.
You won my whole heart. my deepest
gratitude. No; you cannot check me
by impatient gesture now. You must
hear. You told me there was no other
man. Is that true?"
Perfectly she answers proudly.
''And yet you would not listen to me.
You would not be my wife"
You forget it was just after the trial.
You seemed to think you owed me such
a world of gratitude; and-do not men
sometimes mistake gratitude for loves'
"Oh, heavenr he interrupts her i'm
petuously, his hands outstretched. "You
do not mean you doubted me, Georgia:
If that were your reason is it not ban
ished now? Look-look up into my eyes,
my darling, and tell me, if You dare,
I that it is gratitude, not deep and fervent
love, offer you. Nay, you shall see. .
/ And before she could retreat his strong,
trembling hands had seized her dropping
head, and between them her face, with
its dark, lustrous, swimming eyes, with
cheeks still tear wet, yet burning with
bushes chasing each other to her very
brows, her soft red lips quivering and
trembling at the dimpled corners-all-
all now lifted to his worshiping gaze;
and she can repel no longer. One swift
glance, and if ever yestige Of doubt re-
manned it vanished then and there. No
woman ON earth could have looked into
his eyes and denied the love that burned
within them-all her own, all her own.
Speak to me, Georgia. Do sou be-
heve me now?"
Yes she whispers, and her face
would have hidden itself but for those
strong hands again.
''And you have no love to give in re-
turng7
A little silyery beam is peeping through
the foliage now. The kittens. forgotten,
are rolling over each other in mad frolic
at their very feet. The last chirp of
browsing bird has died away. The ST.
lence of the sweet summer night has
fallen ON all surrounding nature, yet he
can hardly hear her whisper
ssYou never asked it-until now
But it is mine, reallys Georgia, tell
me-" he implores.
s'It has been-al yours ever since the
night l heard your letter-ever since
you wrote that You would follow the
old flag to the end.
THE END.
value of Diamonds.