The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-05-04

pecting poor Babe-but patience, pa
thence. Arthur nor she must never know
it, nor how l love her"
Again Babe spoke. There was some
thing Of the old times in the merry ring
OF her voice and in her arch look "And
you must stay" she said, "for Arthur and
Laura will want us TO stand up with them
when they are married"
ARTHUR and Iaura-rarried" He
could not comprehend what she meant.
She moved more closely 10 him. Her
eyes shone as even they never had before.
She said, almost in a whisper, ''Stubby,
grandpa told me all you tod him tonight"
Everything. Babe?"
Eyes, everything, and, O Stubby!" she
cried, wildly, 'if you do love me. tell me
so now" and the impulsive, sobbing girl
threw her arms about his neck and kissed
him again and again.
Ira trembled. He clashed her close 10
him and looked down into those glorious
eyes strangely cleaning with loye-love
for him; and his Joy was so great that at
first he could not speak. At las. he said
and his voice thrilled her through and
through:
40, Babe, 1 do love you every hour,
every moment-so much that l cannot
tell you OF it,
"And. Stubby, l love Won SO that it
seems as though my heart would burst"
she said nesting still closer to him, and
smiling, though a tear rolled down her
cheek.
He bent back her head so that he could
look into those wonderful eyes.
And thought YOU loved Arthur"
'Yes, YOU bad Stubby. but | thought
YOU loved Laura" and at the recollection
of that she kissed him again. passionatelv.
and put her fair, smooth cheek against
his
"How long have you loved me. Babe ?"
ION, l can't think, she said sitting
down on his knee and smoothing back his
hair, but l never knew how much until
the night grandma died. Do you remem-
Der she asked to see me alone2'
Yes"
well, she guessed that I loved you-I
don't know how, but ] know now that she
did, for she told me that she did not think
that you and Laura"-and she stopped at
that word, as she had before, and kissed
would ever marry, and she asked
me not to marry any one / didn't love.
and when l thought about it afterward l
knew"
knew what, Babe?"
80, my darling l knew l could never
marry any one but you, and sometimes
since have wanted to die"
Because you thought 1 loved Laura?"
Yes" and again she smothered him
with her embraces and kisses.
Ira had already found out that the mere
mention OF one name insured him kiss
and he used that talisman so persistently
that Babe suspected Lin at last, though
she did not DENY him the kiss.
The storm had passed away at daybreak.
The autumn leaves of the naples were
falling fast, and over this carpet OF COR
geous colors they walked home, hand in
hand, while hill and valley and ali the
features OF the beautiful landscape of the
Maple Patent rose clean and clear glitter
ing and glisteninR in the cloudless sun
rise, out of their nights bath.
Mapleville is a reality. 1t goes by many
names for there are dozens Of them nest
ling among the hills of the middle and
eastern states, and whenever the reader
calls to mind a quiet. beautiful village
with an air OF peaceful prosperity, with
long lines of magnificent shade trees, tidy
door yards and nestly-paintod homes,
there he may know that Babe and Ira.
Laura and Arthur are walking happily
hand in hand through life, under the ma
pies.