, 1892-02-19

SNkSA 80 - AA6S NAI
"How did Miss Conoyer get hold of itY'
he asked himself. And what was her
object In redirecting it to me? She prom
ised to give me her decision"-
he broke the line of his thought with
a sharp exclamation.
i've solved the mystery, he muttered.
Kate Conover is Rose Ralston. She is
a little firt, and fancies that she's got
even with me-"
He closed his ~conjectures with an ex-
preston which was near profanity.
Aunt Rachel" he said, when he had
rejoined his aunt, "do you know that
Miss Conover is Rose RalstonY'
"ImpossibleT exclaimed Miss Cam
eron.
But, aunt, she is"
Did she say SOP
No. Do you think her coming here
was-was-planned?'
why, 10, Brice. It came about by
accident. She didn't know you were
here, or that am your aunt"
"You are sure of THAR
"Of course l I'm. What does she say
in the letter."
at isn't from her.
"Ehl Who them"
why did she masquerade here under
another name?' evaded Brice. why
should she masquerade anywhere
my dear boy, l can't answer that"
Mrs. Cameron said. 81 am not convinced
that she did"
well, it doesn't matter much, any
how" Rutherford rejoined, which was
bold falsehood, for he knew that it mat
tered a good deal to him.
A year later found Kate Conover
standing in sgrove in the Yellowstone
park. She was looking down a long
vista Of charming scenery, her face
bronzed, her form plump and the blue
In her eyes deeper and sweeter than
ever.
She heard footsteps behind her, and
ON turning around beheld a handsome,
sun Drowned tourist. A second, and her
face grew very red, for the mar was
Brice Rutherford. She had punished
him, to be sure; but she had also pun
ished herself.
He relieved her of her embarrassment
by Offering his hand with easy graceful
ness.
"In now take your answer" he said.
What answer she asked, with re-
newed bushes.
"This is September" he reminded.
"OhI" calculated she. $50 it Is, but l
named last September. 1 left you my
answer"
But there wasn't anything in it for
me, or else | was too stupid to see 1t. 1
may have implied"-
Eyes, 1t implied" she interrupted,
with a charming little laugh.
ooh, bother that idiotic letter." Brice
cried.
And your stumpy, romping, freckled
faced tomboy sweetheart, Rose Ralston,"
added she, quoting from the letter.
81 meant nothing by it, and Pm sorry
| wrote it" replied Brice, getting red In
the face In turn. 81 could not foresee
that I'd afterward meet Rose Ralston in
Kate Conover, and fall in love with her.
You have two names, and you should
not be punctilious about assuming q
third. Mine is at your service. Please
give me the answer you promised"
well, Brice," she said, her blue eyes
dancing with fun, III am not able to re-
call the question with much ~distinctness.
If you will repeat it, in the same atti-
tude, with the same fervor and with the
same wild, waiting look in your eyes, per-
haps | may be able"-
'Oh, | couldn't" interrupted Brice,
laughing. "One such effort in a lifetime
Is enough. | haven't yet recovered the
energy which | expended on that occa-
sion. You intend to accept me, but you
are too-too-modest to say so. l will
not insist, you know"
"Oh, thank you" she replied. ut is a
"a great relief to me-"
And, as they were married before the
close of the year, it is presumed that they
reached an understanding at last
Frank H. Stauffer in Boston Globe.