Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1894-04-28

thought / could feel just as she look
ed, if / had occasion"
What sort of occasion 2" asked
Vincent, amused.
h,"-she laughed uneasily-"if
for instance, any one should make
me jealousl"
Ridiculous as the feeling was, it
began to annoy Vincent that Blanche
always made one Of the party on
these walks. When they rode be
did not mind the dogs. but it SEEM
ed to him as though the white hound
had assumed a sort Of guar dianship
over Gwendoline, and never left him
alone with her.
Do you take Blanche to protect
you from me. Miss Dane?' he said,
half irritably one day, when the dog,
who was nowhere in sight when they
started, came with great bounds to
Gwendoline's side before they reach
ed the end of the lane.
You don't like Blanche p said
the girl.
"Blanche doesn't like me-"
"Shall l tell you wby?' said
Gwendoline carlessly, and not think
ing Of the implication Of her words.
"She is jealous
Vincent's eyes cleaned with
triumph. "Let me see if that is So"
he said, and he drew closer to Gwen.
doline's side and taking her hand
drew it through his arm. The dog
whined uneasily and tried to thrust
herself between the two.
You will have to choose between
u.s." said Vincent.
Be quiet, Blanche" said the
young girl quietly. But Blanche,
with muttered growl, had her white
forepaws firmly on Vincent's should
ers, her 1.-the height towering above
his own.
1t took all Gwendolines authority
to reduce the great beast to obedi-
| eDce. and finally to send her baying
piteously home.
"Now l have you all to myself"
he said significantly.
Poor Blanche! "s said Gwendoline;
"no one has ever come between her
and me BEFORE"
"Do you want her back 2"
"No.n
"You have chosen between u.s."
Between you and-a dog, Mr..
Vincent"
At any rate, you have chosen
me-"
Did you ask me to choose 2"
Yes, Gwendoline," he said ex-
plicitly, ''and | ask you over. / ask
you to choose me for your lover
for your life"
The hand he held trembled.
!" Are you not afraid to let me love
your" she said.
"Afraid ?"
sob, you don't know how fierce
how jealous my love is"
For me, Gwendoline?'
She snatched away her hand and
covered her burning face. 81
worship you, but / never meant to
let you see it,
Gwendoline, my beautiful, sweet
est girl"
That evening the final battle was
fought out with Blanche. Gwendo-
line, with her own firm, white hand,
dashed the dog into submission, and
made her fawn, conquered, at Vim.
cents feet. She was pale and shud-
dering when it was over.
Would you do as much for me?''
she asked.
"Give up dog for you-my
princess ?n lie said with kind ofun-
easy admiration for this splendid
Amazon.
" Would you give up what you
loved because l did not like you to
love it," she asked.
Vincent only kissed the beautiful
lips that asked this absurd question.
1t was now the end of May. The
past weeks had been a transforms
ton scene in Vincent's life. The Of
fee the rare clients, the bills and
the book agents, the dandelions on
the common and Miss Marquand's
Friday musicales had faded into an
undistinguishable past. Life, at its
intensest, with its bloom and fra
GRANGE, he had lived onthis Virginia
farm. To wake betImes in the
morning and hasten down to his
meeting with Gwendoline, to share
every moment of the day with her
among the papers in Gideon Danes
brass bound desk, over the broad
acres Of the plantation, up and down
the mountain roads, along the trout
streams, in the diary among the acres
where the strawberries were redden-
ing-a round of business, pleasure
passion.
But at last, as even the lovers
came TO recognize, a change must
come. Vincent must return to Bos-
ton and straighten up his neglected
affairs. Then he would engage
board for the summer for Gwendo-
line and Miss Chatworth, somewhere
at the seashore where be would Join
them.