The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1894-02-09

Il am not quite sure, my half sister
said in a low, dreamy tone. Once or
twice when l have seen him looking at
you l have said: She is the object of
his admiration. 1t Is not l.. You have
many charms, Persis. You are young,
and men of mature years think more of
youth than young men do. You are
not interested. love?"
In Mr.. Summers: Only as "A pros.
pective brother-in-law." | said. trying
not to laugh.
Il am glad you feel as you do" said
Victorine. ITO tell the truth. | am
deeply interested" She paused and put
her kerchief to her eyes.
THANK you for your confidence, l
said and kissed her.
Then Victorine got out her embroid-
cry, and | resolved to take a u about
the garden, for | had been busy all day
over some sewing and needed the ex-
ercise. l said as much to Victorine.
who answered:
Very well, only, pray, do not go
outside the gate without escort and do
wrap up. Here, put on my cloak"
She took it from the sofa, where it lay,
and wrapped it about me, pulling the
hood well over my head. Then away l
went, walking briskly round about the
paused, and folding my arms upon the
palings looked out along the road.
1t was a beautiful night. The full
moor wa just setting over the distant
hills. The whippoorwill was calling
plaintively in the woods. A long cared
rabbit went Looping through the grass
and sat on its launches to look back at
me, and then, as though convinced that
i was more dangerous than he had
thought at first, vanished in haste.
How sweet and peaceful everything
was! / turned my gaze toward the Sum
mers residence, and at that moment the
door opened, a flood of rosy light rush.
ed out. and | saw Harry and his father
crossing the road. They paused, Mr..
Summers spoke to his son, | saw Harry
enter the gate, and in a moment more
there was a rustling of steps at my side,
not Harry's-it was Mr.. Summers who
stood there. The moon at this instant
gave her last dip below the hills. a lit
tie golden haze remained and van
ished. In the starlight, the shadow
of the trees was very deep where l
stood. l cannot tell what curious feel
ings crept ever me-a sort of fright,
though why the presence of that most
respectable of gentlemen should have
terrified me l cannot imagine. 1t may
have been because there was something
unusual in his manner He came upon
me stealthily, yet breathlessly, and in
a moment more and without warning
he put his arm about my waist.
Il have been seeking this opportunity
for a long while" he said, For once l
catch you alone, for l saw your sisters
shadow on the curtain just now. Real
ly, l believe | am bashful. l ought to
be past that by my age, ought | not?
But i have nc courage where you are
concerned"
All this while l had been doing my
best to escape from his arm, and now
he took it away and folded both his own
behind his back.
BE free, struggling little bird" he
said. Certainly l am too bold, but
perhaps before long-ahem-in fact, to
go straight to the point, | must tell you
that l love you; that l have loved you
ever since l took you in my arms and
bore you through the flames on that
night which | can never forget while l
exist. | have never met any one since
those past days when l courted my ex-
cellent and lamented wife, then Miss
Jones. My income is ample, though l
am not rich. If you will share it, if
you will be my wife, shall be the hap
piest man alive. l should prefer max
ing the offer upon my Bonded knees,
but the grass is damp. l am not a
fluent speaker, but l trust l express the
emotions of my heart. My dear young
lady. do not avert your face. Let me
read my answer in your splendid eyes
here he touched my shoulder deli
cately with the tips of his fingers-''in
your eyes, my angel"
Meanwhile I had been transfxed with
horror. Here was a pretty state of
things! The man / had believed to be
Victorine's sutton was offering himself
to me!
knew Victorine we'll enough to be
sure that she was capable of dying of a
broken heart if she knew it; that the
remembrance that she had made those
tender confessions to me would crush
her with modification.
Oh. this was terrible! And then
there was Harry. whom l loved-who
loved me. | was sure.
What could do? What could l say?
Some girls could have got out Of it
beautifully. no doubt, but | felt help
less.
Look at me-" he pleaded. Well.
though | could not speak, l could look.
] turned my head, my cloak hood falling
back as | did SO, and glared at him.
shall never forget the expression of
his countenance at that moment.
Good heavens!" he calculated, Miss
Persis, r. but | would not listen. |
simply turned and a away. 1t was
the most ridiculous, childish conduct
possible. but then 1t seemed the only
thing that | could do.