New-York tribune., 1895-02-10
AGAINST HUMAN NATURE.
BY MARIA LOUISE POOL.
Copyrich': 1885 By the Tribune Anoeiottcn.
Y. (Continued.)


would not think any more OF what was said right
after the preaching.
She was positive that nothing had been settled
then But evidently Link and his mother be-
leved that everything was settled as they wished
The girl was growing bewdered and rebellious.
Come" he repeated. mars got some quilt or
sumpin she wants 10 show you. An want you
to tell me whar to put thur pump. I've done
made up my mind I'll have pump. You amt
goin' to draw water"
His voice sank TO a tender tone and he leaned
more closely upon Thimble. who maintained his
position. ears cooked and long face seriously
turned toward the valley.
'It isn't any matter about the pumr" ex-
claimed Temple. almost with savage intonation
but amt going to have you drawing water
like the women round hyar," reasserted Link
IAN you shant follow thur plough. Thur Dal-
vecker women amt no call to follow thur plough"
with some pride.
Temple sat up straight. She gripped the bride.
Instead OF looking at her companion she gazed
in a cowardy manner down at her bride hand
a. she began TO speak.
What do you think / came to Cain
Creek for?"
"Oh. Temple. hoped twas to me-
Yes, 1t was"
Now the girl lifted brave eyes and met the in
her face.
Yes" she said ut 10 you and tell you
that twas all wrong-our thinking OF marrying.
you know. l can't do hit-oh. no. can't do hit'
Dalveckers face darkened His mouth shut
closely but he stood quiet
Il didn't say l would" went Temple. her
low voice seeming to FER listener like sharp
knife. you must know | didn't say l would;
and somehow you've understood ii So They told
me l ought not to say I'd think of hit-that men
always thought it the saying yes.
/ don't see why men should think So though.
But can't think OF hit. I've come to tell you
so Link. Oh dear. Link don't look like that,
Please don',"
To the pony's great surprise Temple suddenly
flung about Links neck. while she bent
her head down the top Of the young mans
felt hat. Her own felt hat fell off at the same
moment. revealing her short. tumbled. light hair,
which looked almost ashen in this strong sun
light
Dalveckers mother, who had resumed the
dropping Of corn in the lot down in the valley.
glanced up Temples head dropped down
that of her son. She smiled in the cavernous
depths Of her cape bonnet and then she
marked to the man who following with his
hoe:
That thur gals what call in lurv; an no
wonder. She's gurt er good man. My son amt
one OF thur dad burned kind as III be rough on
oman. She's rid all thur way from Fairview
hyar jest to see Link. She's in lurv she is"
1t will he observed that Mrs Davecker.
widow. unlike her son, had never been to school
in Asheve.
She laughed as she ceased speaking The man
with the hoe had looked up her first words.
He also laughed And he remarked that Link
callers did hev thur luck"
To this Mrs. Dalvecker responded that she
hadn't nawthin against Temple: but she
reckoned as twar Temple was In luck. Jest
to think Of thur plank house. An Link war
lay!n' out fur er pump.
The thought Of the pump seemed to incapaci-
tate Mrs Dalvecker from further speech.
Up the height young Dalvecker not
thinking that he in luck.
He stood quite motionless. with Temples
about his neck. 1t seemed long time before he
could speak. Finally he said in a whisper:
Don't be you can't lurv me- Temple
Id try to git along with jest little lurv at
first"
"'Tisn't that"
Temple raised her head and took her arm
from the mans neck.
1T isn't any question OF love, any way I told
you di1n't love you. l only had an affection
for you. you know But / didn't know but
might do more good by marrying you. You said
how could help you-keep you religious.
and
Dalvecker's face had been growing blacker and
blacker. Now he burst OUT
Its that damned young fool from Asheville.'
ne cried. THE feer with thur fiddle. You urv
him, Temple Crawford Jim Frady said as how
you met urp with him. an went in his boat, an
fddled, an sung, an-an'- It's him. He
shan't fiddle no more! I'll kill hims would
er mad fyst"t
The girl did not try to reply at first TO this
outbreak She gazed down at Link At last she
said soemnly:
II don't lurv him, Link
Dalvecker believed her instantly. His face
began TO be less distorted.
But It doesn't make any difference" said
Temple; "about us. l mean"
"Why not? It's gurt 10 make difference"
mo- I've made up my mind.
"Who is It. them" fercely
81 don't know what you mean. Link"
what man is 1t that you do lurv?'
The barbarian beneath Dalveckers skin began
again to come to the surface.
Nobody"
Then I'm going to hope"
mo. no; wish you'd listen to now Link"
The man stood still and waited.
Things were growing clearer to the girl; as
Things will suddenly grow clearer sometimes In
the fre OF unusual excitement
i want to tell you what my plan of life is"
IL was In this moment that Temples plan OF
life became defined
Tell me. I'll try to bear it,
Dalvecker did hope. He could not help hoping
since that assurance that Temple did not love
the fiddler There was positively nobody else.
And this talk about loving any one was nm.
natural and he did not believe 1t. Women talked
so strangely sometimes. But they didn't mean
much.
Temple thinking OF a power she had felt