St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-05-16
1t IS a small favor for lover 10 ask
When shall it be?"

1t Is small favor for a lover 10 ask
When shall it beT'
Jenny was silent.
Jenny" said the rider. seriously, "dt
you love me?"
Holding his breath, Shelah waited fol
the answer. 1t was inaudible.
Come little closer, Jenny" said thu
horseman gayly, 'klsses on paper arr
nothing to kisses I'M
"Hushl" cried Jenny, 'some one is
comingp'
1t was Shelah. He rounded the corner
in time to see Cyril Rlviugton riding
away.
With his head bowed, Shelah crossed
the threshold of the inn door. He was
met inside bv a pretty, brown-cheeked
girl whose face had heightened and
rather unusual bloom. At sight OF
Shelah she looked disconnected.
"Jen, lass" he said, II want to ask
you somethin'."
"Well. them" said Jenny, SAY it
quick. What is lt?"
Its this" said Shelah, and his voice
shook a little. ave ha' been sweet
heartin' for long time, and l want to
know when we are going TO get mar
ried, Jen?"
Never" she said softly.
| Never" he responded, huskily.
~ should only make you wretched. l
want you to give me up, TO forget me,
| Shelah."
"Give you up, Jen! Give you up.
miss! Give up my life-ask me for that,
| Jen, but don't ask me to give you up,
| sweetheart, for l do SO love you, my
dear"
Jenny's lips quivered and her eyes
began to fill with tears, but she kept
her face to the window.
''lt would break my heart to marry
you," she said, ''for | love some one
else"
You love some one else?" said She
lab. mechanically.
"Yes. and he is going to marry me.
So you see, Shelah, it would be wrong
for me to marry you. l should always
be miserable and wretched. and l should
make you miserable and wretched, too;
SO please. dear Shelah, let me go and
and forget me.''
White and still sat Shelah; then heav-
lily and YEARLY he arose. Jenny uncoy-
cred her face for a moment. AT the
sight Of his she hid it again.
Forget, you, lass.' he said. II never
can" Moved perhaps by the thought
of what might have been, he leaned
down and gently pressed his lips to her
forehead.
But if giving you up, lass" he pro-
ceeded, husklly, twill make you happy,
why Jen''-there was an agonizing ring
in his voice why, give you up"
When she looked round again he was
gone.
All that night it froze hard, and the
calm sea lay moaning like dog on it's
chain. Shelah heard it as he stood in
the louely sentry box of the lifeboat
lookout.
AS usual Shelah called at the "Ship"
for Tom Reeks. He had barely entered
when he heard a horses hoofS on the
hard road. A horseman reigned up at
the inn, and Shelah drew back into the
shadow
"Shelah!" it was Jenny who spoke.
She stood, white and trembling. on the
cellar steps. "Will-you take him tbis?"
Strangely fascinated at being called
upon for such an act. Shelah took from
her the measure of sparkling ale, and,
like man in a dream, carried 1t TO the
door. With his head down he walked
up to the rider.
A loud Hem" caused him to start
and look up. Instead of the young
brewer he was facing the old one.
mo. my man." he said. II don't
care for anything as early as this. If
you'll have the goodness to hold my
horse while dismount-I want to see
the landlord. Is he In?"
Rivington ST.. was pleasant, chatty
old gentleman, and he soon disclosed
the object of his visit. A ball was 60
ing to be held at Herringbourne town
hall, and he was distributing invita-
tons to such of his tenants as chose to
attend. AS he was passing-quite by
accident, he assured them-he felt he
ought not to miss the landlord of the
"Ship." There were the tickets, and
he hoped that Reeks and his daughter
would attend.
81 forgot to mention" he said,
blandly, as Reeks. after expressing his
thanks, took them up, "that this ball is
to be held in honor of my son CyriPS
marriage. He is to be married this
week to the daughter of very old
friend OF mine-a man of Kent"
AS he finished a low sobhing cry
startled all but Shelah. A beer warmer
vacantly staring into little lake of
the split liquid at her feet.
"Why, what's the matter. lass?" said
Reeks: You look as white as ghost"
Nothing, father" she answered,
family; nothing only the heat or the
fire."
Shelah Baxter came out Of the "Ship"
and walked aimlessly down to his boat
| The surf was boiling on the Scroby, and
| great rollers with foaming crests were
racing in and tumbling upon the sun
lighted beach.
He stood a while absently watching
| the little fountains which their recoil
left bubbing in the sand, then mounted
| the tall hillock to look for Reeks. On
! the top he started and his tan cheeks
| grew pale.
At the base of the mound, by dwarf
| clump of furze, sat a girl, sobbing vio-
| lently. 1t was Jenny Reeks. He de-
| scended the side she was on and gently
| touched her shoulder.
Through her tear-brimmed eyes she
| looked into his face. Not word of re-
proach. Only in his eyes was the love
that had been so constant and true.
With little catching of her breath
| Jenny rose and drew back; then, with a
convulsive cry, she flung her arms
wildly around his neck, and there she
| sobbed until she could sob no more
When they went back to the "Ship"
| Reeks met them at the door. Something
| in their attitude made him softly whls-
| tie. 1t seemed as if Shelah had taken
his advice and picked up at last.
4