The herald., 1894-01-28

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 long enough
to read all my private papers. / sup
pose you have a right to my secrets
now. Oh, Virginia, do come here. l
shall come after you unless you hurry"
Miss Kingsley put the letter in the
breastpocket of her jacket and buttoned
the jacket tightly; then she went into
the sitting room.
'tDo you believe me now, dear?
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, 81 hope you don't
think that letter fake. tell you, on
my honor, that wrote that letter, ask
ing you to marry me the day 1 was
hurt. You believe me?"
Yes"
GOOD girl. II you had received it
then, would you have accepted me?"
"Yes," very slowly.
"Then, by all that is aggravating,
why don't you take me now?" asked
Brad, making frantic efforts to reach
her. But she moved away. "Oh,
dear, was ever man so shamefully
used? If it were not for that gunshot
wound! Don't take such mean advan-
tage of cripple, Kingsley. Come here,
I want to show you about this edito-
rial"
But Miss Kingsley saw danger ahead,
and she moved to more discreet dis
lance.
"Shot or no shot, I shall walk across
this floor, Kingsley-oh, confound this
legl Excuse me. Come here, Virginia,
like 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. l am d 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. low! 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 mean advantage to take"
said Brad moment later, laughing tri-
umphantly, but what else could do?
And truly that foot did make me vince
little. Don't try to look so severe,
Kingsley. / 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.
ut is scandalously late, nearly
noon, )" she said, and press day too. l
have ever SO many galleys of copy here,
to say nothing of the editorial which
you did not write"
Bother the paper. It's editors do
not became engaged every day. Come
here, Kingsley, and let me see how this
ring fits"
He buys 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. I think she would like
you, Kingsley. Give me your hand,
quick. 1t is time for my lunch, and l
think l hear Mrs. Smart coming. A
perfect fit. You ought to kiss me for
it,
do you see what the clock tells?
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 a
thriving city now. The Independent is
the leading newspaper, and its editor is
rich man. Mrs. Bradley Harper
keeps her carriage, and no longer wears
an ink stain on the index finger of her
right hand. "Mrs. Harper, her hus-
band calls her very properly in company,
but in private he always addresses her as
Kingsley. Adelaide Rouse in Phila-
delphia Press.