Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1894-05-11
A TWO-MINUTE NOVEL.
A simple Story OF Love, a Youth
and n Maiden.

New York Tribune.
Homer Fort sat in the parlor nel
vously toying with an ivory paper
knife. She had not yet come down
He was in evening dress, and as h
leaned forward and caught a glimps
OF his face in mirror he was surprise,
to see that he was pale. But he fel
it to be the supreme moment of hi
life, the one on which his whole futur
hung. For had he not decided to asl
Beatrix that evening to be his wife
BE heard the rustic of silken skirt
and drew quick, involuntary breath
But it was Mrs. Hildehart, the mothe
OF Beatrix, who entered. She was /,
widow and lived alone with her daugh
ter.
"Ab, Mr.. Fort" said the lady, ex
tending her hand graciously, "yor
are quite deserted here, are you not?"
"No, not that, Mrs. Hildehart," an
swered Homer. al found the place
deserted and colonized it, and base my
claims on priority OF settlement. But
l encourage immigration" he added
quickly.
The lady smiled as she sank into 9
chair and looked at the young man.
"Your daughter" continued Ho
mer, ;" is she wellr"
"Quite 80; and much interested in
her charitable work. We have had 9
very hard winter, and, alas! there are
many poor. BY the way, Mr.. Fort
there is matter on which l wish to
speak to you"
Indeed?" said the young man, as
he felt the color flying from his face
The lady sat up on the edge OF her
chair, adjusted pair of gold-rimmed
eyeglasses, and looked at him narrowly
Yes, a matter of great importance
! have had it in mind some time, and
although it is an awkward and painful
subject, it cannot be avoided longer"
Homer faltered an inarticulate reply
aud swallowed lump in his throat.
"You have now, Mr.. Fort, been Wis.
iting my daughter Beatrix for almost
q year. Your calls become more fire..
quent and they grow longer. You do
not deny this. fancy, Mr.. Fort2"
Poor Homer shook his head and
clung to the arms Of his chair. He
could feel his heart throbbing in his
bosom like some great piece of ma
chinery.
"I apprel,ended that you would not
|-Bestrix does not. Mr.. Fort, as you
know, have been to considerable ex-
peuse during the past year in visiting
the worlds fair and repairing my car
riage house. This, added to the motor.
ious stringency of the times. has SER
iously reduced my purse. Now, Mr..
Fort, you must know that in sitting
up here 90 often and 30 late with Bea.
trix you have burned out great deal
of wood during the winter. do not
ask you, Mr.. Fort, to furnish this
wood, but, my dear young sir, must
insist on your saving it in the future.
You will, Of course. comply with my
wishes in the matter"
She swept out of the room. Homer
Fort hid his face in his hands.
How long he sat thus he could not
guess, but he was aroused by q soft
touch on his head. He started up,
and with . little cry Beatrix shrank
back.
II thought you were asleep, Mr..
Fort," she said, bushes jostling one
another on her face. As she stood
there in the mellow light she seemed
more beautiful than ever; and she
was known to be the most beautiful
girl in Binghampton.
With . strong effort Homer spoke.
"Do you know alli" he asked.
"All." she replied, and her eyes
sought the floor.
"Whst can / ssy-tell met"
She tapped the toe Of her boot i'm.
patiently on the soft carpet, but did
not raise her eyes.
"Say nothing" she replied with in
tense earnestness; "say nothing, but
saw woodw
She turned and walked to the sofa,
and from under it drew large red
bucksaw with glittering blade and
great, ragged savage teeth. She held
it up toward the young man.
"Saw WOOD" she repeated.
He SINK back in his chair and
looked at her as in . dream.
"See," she cried. speaking rapidly
and controlling herself with an effort,
as she reached behind little bronze
Barge on the mantel and took up a
bacon rind daintily between her
thumb and finger. " see, it will grease
the blade. smuggled il from the
breakfast table this morning in my
bonbon box" She rubbed the rind up
and down the blade with nervous
haste. "Saw wood" she said again.
you know you were center rush at
college q year ago, and the rind will
help, oh. so much"
Homer Fort, though young, was q
man of resolution. He rose and drew
himself up to his full six feet.
II am ready" he said slowly, scarce.
ly parting his lips. The words came
from the very depths Of his soul.
He followed her through tho kitchen
and into the woodshed. Then he
found pile of shellbark hickory wood
and sawhorse. Beatrix held the
lamp. Then for two hours the saw
rasped and tore and ripped till the
cool air of the woodshed was foggy
with sawdust. Sometimes he would
stop for moment and the girl would