The record-union., 1892-09-24

her little note book. She was now hand
ling this inotfensive object in such way
as to justify the fancy that, had it been
charged with deadly poison in its point,
instead of with bit of plumbago of the
HH quality, she would have driven it
into Freeman's heart then and there.
us it no insult" said she, in sibilant
voice, ito talk to me as you are doing,
when you have just told me that you
love another woman and are going to
meet her?';
Freeman's brows gradually knitted
themselves in frown of apparent per-
plexity. 81 must say don't understand
you,n he observed at length. 81 am quite
sure have said nothing of the sort. How
could II"
ST you wish to quibble about words,
perhaps not. But was not that your
meaning?"
mo, it wasn't. You are the only
woman who has been in my thoughts to-
day"
mr.. PREGNANT"
'tWell?"
You have intimated very clearly that
you are engaged-married for aught 1
know-to woman whom you are now
on your way to meet
AT this point she stopped. Freeman
mad interrupted her with shout of laugh
ter.
She had been very pale. She now
Ilushed all over her face and Jumped to
her feet.
"Sit down, "..he said, laying hand on
her dress, and aided by a lurch of the
vesseh pulling her into her seat again,
ana listen to me. And then l shall in
slst upon an apology. This is too muchw
II Shall ask the Captain"
GU Will not, promise you. Look
mere! When I was in Panama I met
there fellow used to know in New
YORK. lie told me that he had recently
crossed the continent with Professor
Meschines, who used to teach geology
and botany at Yale College, when he and
l were students there. The Professor
had come over partly for the fun of the
thing, and partly to look for specimens
IN the line of his profession. My friend
parted from me at San Francisco-the
Professor was going farther south.n
What has all this to do with the
woman Who
1T has this to do with it-that the Pro-
lessor is the woman! He is over 60 years
old, and has always been good friend of
mine, but L am not going to marry him.
L am not engaged to him, he is not beau
tlful, nor even fascinating, except in the
way of an elderly man of science And
he is the only human being, besides your
self, that l know or have ever heard of
on the Pacific Coast. Now for your apol-
ogyl'
Grace emitted long breath and sank
back in her seat with her hands clasped
in her lap. She raised her hands and
covered her face with them. She removed
them, sat erect and bent an open-eyed,
intent gaze upon her companion.
After this pantomime she exclaimed,
in the lowest and most musical of tones,
"Oh! how hateful you are.'' Then she
cried out with animation, ''I believe you
did it on purposeW Finally she sank
back again with soft laugh and spark
ling eyes, at the same time stretching out
her right arm toward him and placing
her hand on his with whispered, There,
thenr
Freeman, accepting the hand for the
apology, kissed it, and continued to hold
it afterwards.
"Am 1 not little goose?" she MUIR
INJURED.
''You certainly are,' replied Freeman.
You must not hold my hand any
more"
do you mean to withdraw your apol-
ogy?"
"Oh, yes, it does. Besides, when man
receives such delicate, refined, grace
tul, exquisite apology as this''-here he
lifted the hand, looked at it critically and
bestowed another kiss upon 1.-THE
would be fool not to make the most
of it,"
"Ah, Pm afraid you are dangerous.
You are well named-Freemanv'
My name is Harvey. Won't you call
me by it?"
"Oh, can'tp'
TRY! Would it make it easier if
were to call you by yours?"
mime is Miss Parsloe"
Pooh! How can that be your name
which you are going to change so soon?
When l look at you / see your name;
when l think OF you l say to myself
Gracer'
How do you know I am going to
change my name soon, or ever2"
Whom are you talking to?'
"To you-Harvey! Ohp' She snatched
her hand away and pressed it over her
lips.
How do know you're beautiful, Grace,
and-irresistible?"
But Pm not! You're making fun of
me! Besides, Pm 20''
How many times have you been en-
gaged?"
"Never. Nobody wants to be engaged
to poor girl. oh, mep'
DO you know what you are made of,
Grace? Fire and flowers! Few men in
the world are men enough to be match
for you. But what have you been doing
with yourself all this time? WHY do YOU
come to place like this?''
What nonsense we are talking!. But
what you said reminds me. It's the
strangest coincidence"
"What is it?''
Your Professor Meschines-''
"On the contrary he is most matter
of-fact old gentleman"
do be quiet and listen to mel When
my mamma was girl in school there
were two boys there-it was a bow and
girls school-and they were great friends.
But they both fell in love with my mann
ma"
Il can understand that" put in Free
man.
How do you know I am like nv
mamma? Well, as l was saying, they
both fell in love with her, and quar-
relied with each other, and had fight.
The boy that won the fight is the man to
whose house am going.n
"Then he didn't marry your mamma?n
M