The diamond drill., 1894-02-24
sally O@w8.
An ANQf- War R0Q'F
z5S2 q TaE SOU
81 BRET HARTE =
CoPYRIGHL 1899. .eY nif RUTHoN

continued Couri'aal gently
"Yes, thought yod like sm.hilg
fresh and pooty iasi-ad az tlic.e s.aic
ones"
and were they also from yau?" be
asked, even moro gently
"Dcnr mol They were left over from
last anniversary day by some ~ tho
veterans. That's the only ono put
thcrc-thnt ISL got Mr.. Chnmpncy 70
leave Il here on his way 70 his house.
lie lives just yondcr 20 know"
II was impossible 70 resist this IN
vinciblc naigete Courtland bit his lip
ns the vision arose before him of this
still moro Rdif English odmiror bring
ing hither, at Miss Sally's bidding, the
tribute which she wished 10 place on
tho grave OF an old lover 70 please
third man. Meantime She had put her
two little hands behind her back In the
simulated attitude Of a good girl, and
was saying half smilingly, and, he even
thought, half wistfully:
"Arc yo' satisncd?"
"Pcrfectly."
"Then let's go away. It's mighty hot
here"
They turned away and descending tho
slope again reentercd the thicker shade
of tho main avenue. Here they seemed
20 have left the sterner aspect OF death.
They walked slowly; tho air was heavy
with the hot incense Of flowers; the road
sinking little left grassy bark on
one side. Here Miss Sally halted and
listlcssly seated herself, motioning
Courtland 10 do the same lie obeycd
eagerly. The incident OF the wreath
had troubled him albeit with contend
ing sensations She had given IL TO
please him; why should he question the
manner, or torment himself with any
retrospe ctivo thorght? He would have
given worlds 90 have been able To nc
ccpt IL lightly or gallantly-with any
other girl hc could--but he knew he
was trembling on the verge Of a pas
sionatc declaration; the magnitude Of
the stake was too great 10 bc, c,impcrilcd
by levity of which she was more a
mistress than himself and he knew that
his sentiment had failed 70 impress her.
His pride kept him from appealing 10
her strangely practical nature, although
he lad recognized and accepted u, and
had even begun TO believe IL mn essen.
tial part Of tho atrong fascination she
had over him But being neither q
coward, nor a weak hositatng idcalist,
when he deliberately took his scat be
side her hc as deliberately riadc up his
mir1 20 accept his fUtc-wha,cycr it
might bc then and there.
Perhaps there was something of thls
In his face. II thought go were look
ing little white, connie" she said
quietly, "and rceltoucA I've might SIT
down spell, and then talic il slowly
homo. Yo' amt accustomed q the
so'thn sun, and the air 81 the hollow
icos swnmpy" As he made slight
gesture Of denial, she went on with a
pretty sisterly superiority: That's the
was OF yo' ro'thn men. Yo' think yo'
can do everything Just ns II 50 were
reared 70 It, and yo never make allow.
ance for different climates, different
blood and different customs That's
where you slip up"
But he was already leaning towards
her with his dark. earnest eyes iixed
upon her In way sho could no longer
mistake. "At the risk of Slipping up
again, Miss Dows," hca said, gently
dropping into her dialect with a win.
ming but unconscious flattery, 81 am
going TO ask you 70 teach me every.
thing you wish--to be all that gop de-
mand- which would be far better You