Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1892-07-01

however He draws hoe with a st org.
IL tender arm, TO the shelter of the
warm room within.
See her., Dulce," says he, stand
ing before her and taking her hands
gently in his Own, ''shall we begin all
over again, you and Ip"
''You and Ip"
"Why notP LooiSl set you free
release you" pressing her back from
him, not very fan but sti far enough
for him TO know that Dulcn as fin
gers have frightened over his, as il i'm
fear or protest or both. Even such a
little distance has frightened her. oh,
the glad thrill of dawnlng hope thar
heats his veins as he feels the nervous
clasp ng Of her hands!
"Yon arr free, Dulc.e; | have no
smallest claim upon you. You can 90
your ay. and | mine, You" uD-
steadily, ''you quite understand thatp''
YES" family.
"Well-nOw," hs pauses as il afraid
to go on. After all it is only an ex-
perlmeat; who knows how il will endP
NOW propose 10 you all over
again. l beg, l entreat YOU to marry
me! You have your freedom; you can
keep me or let me go as you will,
but. pas Sionately, 81 beseech you to
keep me-"
"Oh, mol" Her pretty head is hang
ing down, her voice ha' sunk into a
whisper. mot after-after -that-p"
After tn later everything"
Miss McDermot raises her head
slo " ~ and looks ut him. Reproach is
in her glance.
"Why-why were you not like this
always?" asks she.
"How could l be?' The reproach
is all on his side now, and strong
enough to dwarf hers. "Do you know
how you treated me? What icicle was
ever colder? Why. / was afraid to 60
mar you. Once kissed you. Do you
remember itP / do; and your look
after it. Once only. This" STOPPING
and pr ssing his Ups lightly TO ner
eek, ''i5 tho second time. And"
sadly. II do not call that kissing you
at all.
''And what do you call itp" asks
she, CLEAN OF mischievous fun Creep
ing into her face in spite of her. Then
suddenly she filings arms around
mis- neck. "Well, I'll kiss you," SAYS
she, because / love you, Ralph; do
indeed"
"You are sure of itP'' he asks five
minutes later.
Quite, quite sure"
81 wish you had been sure little
earlier"
II shoul init The waiting has
made it ever so much surer."
And you are happy, darling?"
al never felt so happy"
''Not even one regret?"
WELL" nervously, there is some-
thiug - sDmething-" idgeting awk-
wardly with the flower in his coat
''Yes, something? Go on" says no
anXious!y. "Can it be about Eyre?"
"lcs-he seemed very uneasy about
it."
$50 he very we'll mightw indig--
nantly.
"Oh, but il was all for me.n
"All for himself. in my opinion"
You wrong him." warmly;"you do,
indeed"
TO hear her stick up for Eyre is gall
and NORWOOD; but to shake the .ood
feeling established between them now
is not to be thought of for moment.
'Well, don't let us quarrel about
him." says he, and his tone lightens
itself bis heart as heavy as lead.
"What WIS he uneasy alb ut in es-
pecialP"
ABOUT the-the lies he told you.'S
"He9 who?n
"Why, poor Andy, of course; whom
were you thinking OFF"
"Of Eyre. Forgive me that"
Nonsense. says Mis-, McDermot.
why" airily. "pve forgotten him.
No, it was Andy. You know he told
you last night that he had brought me
to the station, and as | told you, /"
"Is that alp"
Eyes. 1t was a good deal. And
Andy is greatly pat out about il. You
you are sure you don't think badly
of him?"
Il think" enthusiastically. very
highly of him."
"Oh, do you, reallyp'
'Wh. how elsa should | think of
himp Was he not trying to h.lp
youP'
: And you will say something lovely
to h m the very first thing in the morn
ingp"
mo; shall say something lovely to
you then"
"Oh, Ralph! Well, good
night Goodnight again
i. Goodnight, really, this timer
THE END.