The Press., 1893-08-03

prasps Q bitsof his coat and holds on to him so. ssDo you know. what you are. Jack: The dearest old boy on earth
 s.And you-do you know what you arey' says Hardinge. pressing her fingers to his lips.
 '.No." says she.
 Well, can't tell you," says he, ''be- cause there is, nothing on, earth fit to compare you with. You are you. and that's all. r
 ..What a lovely speech! No wonder love you," says Letitia naively; "but," t,ollapsine into gloom, whats the good of it all: Auntie will never let you marry me"
 sWe could marry without her per mission" says he slowly.
 "No, we coAidn't," says Letitia, with decision. She looks at him earnestly. "I wouldn't marry you without her per mission for anything. We would have to run away, and that would break her heart. am all she has in this world, and though she scolds me good deal | love her. wouldn't desert her, Jack.
 "You could come back again. says he.
 ..Of course I know that. But then she would always feel diss p2ointed in me and hurt and No, no, shallnever 1 10 that. She trusts me so."
 ."Then I don't know what's going to be the end of 1t" said he.
 I've must only wait," says Letltla despondingly. And now, Jack, you had better go. She is sure to come here presently to see how the men are getting on with that fence. You know what an excellent woman of business she is. If she caught you here'-- ......-. :,
 ..There would be wigs on the green, says Jack, laughing. Well, goodby- for awhile. I suppose if l come back si. again this evening shall find you here?
 "Yes-oh, yesl Jack. do take care. The men will see your
 Mot they" says Jack, kissing he1 again. And you-what are you going to do while Pm away?'
 .,Think of you," with little saucy glance at him from under her long
 lashes. By the bye. have you got
 match about~you" ., l What on earth do you want It forF
 saws he. giving her some wax lights out
 of a little silver box as he speaks. "Go
 ing to have cigarette?
 SNonsense! feel as if I want to sci
 fire to some of those dry little bunche'
 of grass; fairy tufts we used to cal
 them long ago. They would burn beau
 tifully today, the sun is so hot.
 "Well, don't set fire to yourself, what ever you do," says he thoughtlessly Once again they kiss and this time real ly part. .. :s.,. Letitia stands watching him till he out of sight, standing on tiptoe as h gets over the wall to blow last kiss t him. Then coming out from the shelte' of her trysting place she walks into tn
 old meadow, now beaten down say
 where the tall, coarse tufts of grass af , growing. Lighting one of her matches , she kneels down and sets fire to the tut nearest her. It used to be an amust ment of hers in her childhood. and she not vet so far removed from those day 7 as to have lost all childish fancies. Si ting down on the side of tiny hilloc
 at a distance, she watches the danc1n lames-so small. so flickering. 90 harn < less. ~.-..-. ..ss .s- B.. ; She leans back against the bank b hind her and crosses her white arms b
 hind her head. What day it is-mo ,, heavenly sweet-quite drowsy da. :, How lovely that light smoke is chmbir - slowly uphill and fading away amor . the young beech trees above. And u ,4 little flames; like fairies dancing. Pe ,e haps they are fairies who. dwell i'll tho " old tufts. No wonder they are danci1 with rage evidently. Their stron ,s holds are seized, destroyed by the tyra '' man! No-woman this time. An. a :, In this case woman has come the fro = at all events. She had been readl1 - ~ about the emancipation of women Ia ,s night and had laughed over it. After a = she didn't want to be emancipated. 5 ;s only wanted Jack to love her always I', nothing more. Perhaps the other que y women only meant that, too, only tn
 hadn't found their Jacks yet. Pot ,,, How warm it is!
 ,a Gradually her head sinks back up ao her arms, her eyelids droop over the SO " clear eyes. How delicious it is hel a+ How cozy! Again the eyes open, b 9" 9" very lazily this time. See how the lit o. insects run to and fro over her wh ,., =, frock, hither and thither, all in scar 70 of the great want-food. A passi ~ thought makes her laugh indolent r. She hopes they will not make food #. her. And then the eyelids close re +o lutely: she leans back. Sleep has caue x- her.
 So sound indeed is her slumber u vs she does not know that now the Ht black insectseare rushing over her, l t in search of food, but of safety-saf'
 from the tiny hot flames that are ere .lv ing every moment closer to the tn ,s white frock. Now they have toucl Is. I her foot and have so far penetrated It thin slipper as to make her unpleasan r,s warm, but not enough to waken | ,as She only turns little and sighs;
 now! '- an Now she springs to her feet with an
 frighted scream. Smoke! Smoke eve ar- where! And what is this creeping up If front of her gown? A thread of fire. ro- blows upon her face. She recoils fl it, but it follows her. Madly she ana her hands and tries to beat it back. 1.. is% men! the men at the fence! Where ies they! Alas. they have all gone to ,av ner! Once again frantic cry 'bul sh~ from her lips. - 1t is answered. At this moment E WI dinge reaches her, and fiinging of Als coat he catches her in it. Foldina
 round her, he holds her as if in wise
 What brought him back (beyond
 mercy of God) he never knew, exe
 that those last words of his, Don't
 fire to yourself, at all events, had seer