The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-08-02

ana ne wanted to be quite sure, he
told himself, as an excuse for waiting,
though he knew all the while that he
was sure, that she was worthy of his
love and trust. So he waited.
Then he thought some one might
come along if he dallied, and, discover
ing what a wonderful woman she was,
win the prize he coveted away from
him. He felt as if there was possible
danger in delay. But how to say what
he wanted to-that was what troubled
him.
Little cold shivers went over him and
his tongue would cleave to the roof
of his mouth. He felt sure that if he
began to propose, words would forsake
him and there he would stand, gasp
ing and opening his mouth like dying
fish.
He had been a constant visitor at
Wayne villa for several months and he
was thinking this morning, as he
walked leisurely up the path, that if he
could but meet Miss Forsythe he would
speak.
The other day she had talked so IN
telligently and looked so sweet and shy
and he had had such a beautiful oppor-
tunity for telling her, but he was so
frightened that he concluded there
wasn't any need of saying anything
just then; perhaps it would be better to
wait few days and trust to Provi-
dence to bring matters to crisis.
AS he turned bend in the path he
saw seated on rock under a shady
tree the object of his thoughts.
She smiled when she saw who it was
that had intruded upon her peaceful
privacy; and the poor lovesick artist
thought she had the sweetest smile he
had ever seen. She made room for
him and he sat down beside her.
"This is a lovely morning for sketch
ing and thought ] would sketch some
of this beautiful scenery, but now that
l have found something so much more
interesting to me and SO much more
beautiful II think L -would-would
would"
"Rather talk" interrupted Miss For
sythe, with quizzical smile.
And the artist blushed like any rose
at his foolish speech.
Then there was a little silence, which
Miss Forsythe broke by saying:
Here comes your protege," as Flora
Hale came tearing down the path at
break-neck speed.
ooh, dear!" sighed the poor artist
with comical despair. Il don't see why
should be so prosecuted, do you?
That child worries the life out of me-"
81 say" called out Miss Flora, while
yet long way off, "you aren't fool,
are youP"
81 hope not" answered the aston
ished man. "What makes you ask
such question:"
"Oh, cause" answered Miss Flora.
"You see, heard ma and Mrs. Insley
talking about you an Miss Forsythe,
an Mrs. Insley said it was plain as the
nose on your face that you loved her
like everything, only you darsen't say
so. An ma she said you was foolish
not to tell her an done with it, for she'd
seen as how you wanted to for good
while, an she said Miss Forsythe
thought her eyes of you, an you must
see it if you wasn't fool, an lots more
that l can't remember But l knew
you wasn't fool"
And then this little protege smiled
lovingly up in the red, red face of the
poor artist.
He glanced at Miss Forsythe. She
was blushing like the reddest rose of
summer The sight gave him cour-
age.
miss Forsythe," he began, and then
he got frightened and paused.
But he mustered courage and went
on:
"Do you care anything for me? I
certainly do for you"
Then he found himself holding out
his hand to her and she put her hand
in his, and then he kissed her. He
wondered at himself and his new-found
courage, for he kissed her again.
But the fact of his sudden bravery
was enough to make him as courageous
as most lovers are, and he actually put
his arm around Miss Forsythe and
gave her third kiss.
Miss Flora stood and watched mat
ters with mouth and eyes wide open,
taking rapid and accurate observations
of what was transpiring.
"Don't tell, will you, dearP" said Miss
Forsythe, coaxingly.
"No, not for anything" answered
Flora, with grin.
Then the happy artist kissed her
and said: you're a little angel, for
you've helped me to find out some
thing / have wanted to know for q long
time"
Then the little angel grinned harder
than ever.
An hour later as the artist and Miss
Forsythe came up to the house they
heard Flora rehearsing the whole af-
fair to a group of delighted children.
"Oh, but it was just jolly!" cried
she. "He just got awful red an kinder
rolled his eyes up to her-this way; an
she was redder n he was, an pretend
ed she seen something on the ground,
when there wasn't thing to see; an
he says, 4 love you more'n tongue can
tell,' an stuck his hand right out
! lords her-so-an' she took hold of il
an then he kissed her, an | knew he
was scairt, but he kissed her again, an
then he stuck out both his arms this
way-an' hugged her, an then he
kissed me an called me an angel"-
here "the angel" stopped to titter-"an
as near as l can make out he'd never
have said Dothin' if l hadn't helped
him, cause he's man an men are
'fraid of women"
"Say, let's play it; you be Miss For
sythe an Ill be the artist, an wei
have lots of fun"
The artist and his companion looked
at each other and laughed.
just then up came Mr.. Wayne anc
startled him by clapping him on th'
back, saying:
Hello, old fellow! Why, what il
the world is the matter with you?"'
Nothing" said Arthur, recovering
| himself.
Well, it was but a few weeks til
Miss Forsythe became Mrs. Lyle anC
Mr.. Clifton Wayne cannot comprehend
how Arthur oVercame "his hatred TO
girls!"