The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1895-01-31

and put her Of with saying he'd see
about it after the wedding; that he must
take her to that.
Harry cursed himself for fool and
carried himself bravely. with sinking
heart, but quite without that self seek
| ing, domineering spirit Of pursuit that
women love in lovers. He had heard, IL
is true, Of coquetries, retreats and feno-
ing on the part of women in love affairs,
and on these traditions he tried to hang
q slender hope.
What in the world would ever become
Of sincere lovers, handicapped by the
helpless simplicities and duplicities Of
youth, in society where they are left
to work out their own salvation, If 1t
were not for the faint guidance offered
by the literature Of love storiesl
But already the ring had been sent
for. Three days passed, and the wedding
was at hand. Nearly oil his guests from
the hotel were to make the journey to
Art Harkins' in "a big wagon" sitting
upon straw piled in its bed.
Harry had given up the hope Of the
buggy ride with Charley. He was afraid
to propose it lest he should be refused,
but under the encouragement of her
smiles the same idea had entered the
brain Of the other young man. He en-.
gagged the buggy and engaged Charley
to ride in it.
So lightly did Mrs. Peytee carry her
duties that she climbed into the big
oF 80
puss in the corner and supposint Harry
was carrying out the campaign he had
sketched her. Her mind was uncommon
ly preoccupied with plans for the subju-
cation of the colonel, who had been
showing Of late q coquelY unbecoming
gentleman and a soldier, particularly
one so rheumatic.
Harry saw Charley depart in bitter.
ness Of soul too deep to be profaned by
the pen of such light minded character
as myself. Then, his feet carrying him
as if with q ,volition Of their cwn, he
started to walk through the woods to
Harkins', the place where he could look
upon her once more. There was no rea-
son to suppose that in any case he would
not see her frequently for years to come,
but he did not think about that. He felt
as if that night bounded life.
As Harry came out of the primitive
forest upon the wood pile that occupied
Art Harkins' front yard he could see
through the door of the log house, by
the light of the little festal fire burning
in the big fireplace, the newly arrived
guests as they greeted Mrs. Harkins and
the white gowned, red armed BRIDE
Mrs. Harkins, in her purple calico, met
the occasion with the true mountain
eer's unspoiled, easy cordiality, blessed,
ly unconscious Of any real social dis.
tinctions between white folks. Dade
showed an assurance of a different ma
ture. There was something in her
hearty welcome that might be attribut.
ed to tolerable understanding of the
business Of the coal company, but simi.
larly fortifying knowledge failed to con-
fer the same ease upon her father. He
shifted uneasily about the room, wear
ing, sure enough, his broad hat upon
his head, but touching it politely when
any Of the ladies spoke to him, and be.
hind him, when he could get there, kept
the shamefaced groom elect, sunk in
that peculiarly painful misery which
apes delight and marks the man in his
position the world over.
Harry watched Charley as she gently
insisted upon speaking to him and bent
her tact to Tightening his sufferings for
an instant Then as she disappeared
from his view he came on, as il pulled
by string, and after speaking to his
hostess stationed himself where, from
across the room, he could best see her.
Besides the hc6el party only the white
haired old circuit riding preacher and
q few of the Harkins' kinspeople were
present, but these, with the family, were
enough to establish their own rigid rule
of etiquette upon the company. Every
one was forced to feel that the least
gayety or relaxation would be grave
indecorum, and the occasion was mark
ed by much the same manners as pre-
vail at funerals. When the company
were all seated, the young couple left
the room, and three minutes passed.
during which silence prevailed or was
broken only by whispers. Before they
knew it Harry and Charley caught them.
s;{>4ss. n ).
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