The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1894-01-19

3 DOIIher-GOOdaIe Co., Boston, Mass. 5
GNNNNNNNUN%%~t~%%S
ing to marry you as soon as l am we'll,
if you will have me. "
You say this because you are sorry
for me. You think love you because
I acted so that night, and you are try
ing to sacrifice yourself to my self re-
spect."
II would not do that even for you,
Kingsley. If you doubt me. so into the
next room and find letter in the Left
hand desk drawer, addressed to your
self, and notice the date. Please go
and find that letter, l beg"
She was gone long time. At last
Brad called out: Haven't you found it
YETI You have been gone loag enough
TO read all my private papIs. ] sup
pose you have a right to my secrets
now. Oh, Virginia, do coaao here. /
shall come after you unless you hurry. "
Miss Kingsley put the letter in tic
breastpocket Of her jacket and buttoSeS
the jacket tightly; then she went into
the sitting room.
do you believe me now, dearH l
found out several weeks ago that the
platonic business had come to an end,
and we had to begin on new basis.
So let's form new partnership now.
Come here, Kingsley" stretching out
his hand. Kingsley" he pleaded,
as she still held aloof, II hope you don't
think that letter a fake. l tell you, on
my honor, that wrote that letter, ask
ing you to marry me the day was
hurt. You believe me?"
Yes"
Good girl. If you had received it
then, would you have accepted me?"
Eyes, " very slowly.
"Then, by all that is aggrayating,
why don't you take ne nowr' asked
Brad, making frantic efforts to reach
her. But she moved away. "Oh,
dear, was ever a man SO shamefully
used? If it were not for that gunshot
wound! Don't take such mean advan-
tage of cripple, Kingsley. Come here,
l want to show you about this edito.
rial"
But Miss Kingsley saw daager ahead,
and she moved to a more discreet dis
lance.
'Shot or no shot, l shall walk across
this floor, Kingsley-oh. confound this
leg! Excuse me. Come here, Virginia,
like a sensible girl and kiss me. |
don't believe you care row of pins for
me. have proposed to you by letter
and by word of mouth. am poor
lame devil, half sick yet, with all the
signs of a relapse coming on, and you
won't call me Brad, darling, again. "
He rose and cautiously lowered one
foot to the floor. "Ow!merciful good
ness, what twingel Oh, do bring me
something; there are salts on that ia
BILE"
Miss Kingsley, thus thrown off her
guard, ran with the smelling salts and
applied them to the sufferers nose.
Only for a moment, though, for the
salts fell on the floor, and she was held
fast.
1T was a mean advantage to take, ,"
said Brad moment later, laughing tri-
umphantly, but what else could 1 do?
And truly that foot did make me vince
a little. Don't try to look so severe,
Kingsley. l know you are not half SO
angry as you try to appear. Now go
into the next room again and find lit
tie box in the lower right hand drawer
of the desk and bring it to me. "
Virginia obeyed and then Strengthened
her hat before the mirror.
1T is scandalously late, nearly
noon" she said, land press day too. 1
have ever so many galleys of copy here,
to say nothing of the editorial which
you did not write. \"
Bother the paper. Its editors do
not became engaged every day. Come
here, Kingsley, and let me see how this
ring fits. "
"He buys a solitaire, she said sauc-
lily. Independent stock must have
taken a sudden rise"
Don't be impertinent, child. 1t was
my mothers ring. She told me to keep
it for my wife. l think she would like
you, Kingsley. Give me your hand,
quick. 1t is time for my lunch, and
think l hear Mrs. Smart coming. A
perfect fit. You ought to kiss me for
it."
''Do you see what the clock tellsi
Where did put my glasses? Oh, here
they are. Good morning, Mr.. Harper.
Smoky City has filled the predictions
of the most hopeful boomers. 1t is q
thriving city now. The Independent il
the leading newspa- ", and it's editor is
! a rich man. Mrs. Bradley Haapel