Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1895-09-26

picnic, but I set to work and soon got
1t changed so that 1t would do very
we'll Slattery seems never to have
asked any one to ride tandem. But
when I had written 1t, II seemed so
dreadfully stiff that had to put lit
tie beginning and end of my own, which
seemed to brighten 1t up a good deal"
II thought there was something funny
about the beginning and end"
did you? Fancy your noticing the
difference in style. How quick you are!
I am very slow at things like that.
| ought to have been a woodman, or
gamekeeper, or something. I was made
on those lines. But I have found some-
thing now
What is that, them"
"Ranching. have a .chum in Texas,
and he says it is rare life. 1 am to
buy share in his business. 1t is all in
the open air-shooting, and riding, and
sport. Would it-would 1t Inconvenience
you much, Ida, to come out there with
me?"
Ida nearly fell Off her perch in her
amazement. The only words Of which
she could think were my goodness
mel" so she said them.
IF 1t would not upset your plans,
or change your arrangements in any
way" He had slowed down and let go
Of the steering handle, so that the great
machine crawled aimlessly about from
one side Of the road to the other. Il
know very we'll that am not clever or
anything Of that sort, but still 1 would
do all 70 hnnnV
Don't you think that in time you might
come to like me a little bit?"
Ida gave a cry of fright. II won't
like you If you run me against brick
wall, she said, as the machine rasped
against the curb. do attend to the
steering"
Eyes, will. But tell me, Ida, whether
you will come with me-"
"Oh, don't know. It's too absurd!
How can we talk about such things
when I cannot see you? You speak to
the nape Of my neck, and then 1 have
to twist my head round to answer"
II know. That was why put You in
front upon my letter. thought that
1t would make 1t easier. But If you
would prefer it will stop the machine,
and then you can sit around and talk
about it."
Good graciousw cried Ida. Fancy
our sitting face to face on motionless
tricycle. in the middle Of the road, and
all the people looking out of their win
dows at usg'
1T would look rather funny, wouldn't
it? Well, then, suppose that we both
get off and push the tandem along in
front Of us?"
"Oh, no, this is better than that"
"Or 1 could carry the thing"
Ida burst out laughing. THAT would
be more absurd still"
"Then we will go quietly, and will
look out for steering. won't talk about
1t at all If you would rather not. But
really do love you very much, and you
would make me happy if you came to
Texas with me, and 1 think that per-
haps after a time I could make you
happy, too"
But your aunt?'
"Oh, she would like 1t very much. I
can understand that your father might
not like to lose you. I'm sure wouldn't
either, If were he. But, after all, Amer
lea is not very far off nowadays, and
is not so very wild. We would take
grand piano, and-and-a copy Of |
Browning. And Denver and his wife
would come over to see us. We should
be quite family party. 1t would be
jolly"
Ida sat listening to the stumbling
words and awkward phrases which were
whispered from the back of her, but |
there was something in Charles West |
macott's clumsiness of speech which |
was more moving than the words Of the |
most eloquent of pleaders. He paused, |
ne stammered, he caught his breath be- |
tween the words, and he blurted out |
in little blunt phrases all the hopes of |
his heart. If love had not come to her |
yet, there was at least pity and SYM
pathy, which are nearly akin to 1t. |
Wonder there was also that one so
weak and frail as she should shake this |
strong man so, should have the whole |
course of his life waiting for her decl- |
sion. Her left hand was on the cushion |
at her side. He leaned forward and took |
It gently in his own. She did not try to |
draw it back from him.
MAY have it," said he, "for life?" |
"Oh, do attend to your steering" said |
she, smiling round at him; land don't |
say any more about this today. Please
dontw
when shall know, then?'
"Oh, tonight, tomorrow, don't know. |
1 must ask Clara. Talk about some
thing else"
And they did talk about something
else; but her left hand was still en-
closed in his, and he knew, without ask
ing again, that all was well.
ITO BE CoNTINUED.J