The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1895-12-13

to me-" she interrupted, with angry
hauteur, THAT l should be the ono
chosen for your insult', ! moved my
hands helplessly IN protest. "Oh. but
you don't understand - ! declared.
Il understand you quite well enough, :"
she said. looking at me with contempt.
'The temptation!" murmured again
in confusion. She curled her nostrils.
II would not have done il in any other
case. bsvause there would not have been
the s@me overpowering temptation. l
said bravely, Il dare say not, she ex-
claimed. with q sneer You see,
went on breathlessly. mo one could
look at you without wanting to- IL
think we have discussed this enough, I"
said Miss Power CURLY, 1T was your
eyes that first gave me the irresistible
impulse. continued humbly.
Miss Power snorted, very daintily, Of
course II have never seen eyes that
color. added earnestly. Eyes are
common enough, return ,d Miss Power
severely as she turned away again.
mo. said firmly, mot that strange.
sweet combination of hazel and brown,
and"- II don't think this is very in
teresting. Mr.. Radcliff," said she cold
ly. "Then that peculiar shade of auburn
I've never seen in any hair in the
world" 1 cried eagerly. Miss Power
shrugged her shoulders. "That is ridicu-
lous. she said. Its true, declared.
Those wavering masses-I've often
wondered and wondered how it looks
when you take it down at night. II
don't think you have any right to do
that, remarked Miss Power. II can {
help it," explained. And the shape
of your face. " There are plenty Of
people with faces as-much the same as
mine. said she. refngering the flowers.
Where are they?" demanded. "I've
knocked about the world good deal,
but I've never come across one within
miles of it. -
"You re rather extravagant. Mr..
Radcliff. said Miss Power. II often
lie awake at night thinking of you,
continued. II can call up every single
detail of your face and expression. And
Il know you will think me very fool
ish and-wrong, but sometimes well,
can't 60 to sleep without pretending
TOTO do what did last night, you
know" How foolish you are" said
Miss Power. with faint laugh. "That
was the reason" explained. why,
when found myself. not of my own
doing, you know, but just found myself
close to you, couldn't have helped it
for the world. / just-well, it seemed
all so wonderful and beautiful, and my
heart went thump. and became quite
unconscious of the crowd and every one,
and then I caught your eyes, and-well,
did it before l knew. "
There was a pause, and then, "Oh,
but you shouldn't let such things in
fuence you like that" observed Miss
Power in softened voice.
II am very sorry" said l humbly.
Did you mind very much?"
"Of course" she replied promptly
and then hurriedly went ON. ''That is,
/ mean, when our cheeks She stop
ped in rare confusion.
But you didn t mind my kissing you,
them" l asked innocently.
Certainly did,, said Miss Power
quickly. THAT isl mean-no, 1 didn t
know, you see.
"Of course you didn t., answered,
looking crestfallen.
% should have minded very much if
l had known, said she, as though anx-
ious that there should be no mistake.
81 know you would" said more lu-
gubriously. II am brute.
"Oh, l wouldn't make too much of
it, Mr.. Radcliff, said she kindly, look
ing out of the window "You have
apologized, you know. And of course
well. can understand from what you
have said that you had-some excuse,
you know
Do you forgive me?' asked mood
ly.
"Oh, yes" said Miss Power cheer
fully. "Of course, and wouldn t think
anything more about it if were you. T"
But can't help thinking about it, +"
said desperately.
But, Mr. Radcliff - she began and
was silent
How can you ask me to forget all
about it with the memory Of that-with
that memory" l asked. arose, and
from where l stood was conscious that
Miss Powers cheek was tinged with
color.
"You-you shouldn' t have done it
then, said shefwith tremulous little
laugh. / approached her, hat in hand.
II couldn't help it, said with sigh.
"Oh. but that's nonsense, said she
very gently, regarding tho traffic in the
street.
Whenever am close to you have
the same temptation, said, drawing
near.
But that's not nice of you, ex-
claimed Miss Power.
"All the time we have been in this
room | have been struggling with a sin
gular desire to do the same thing,
said. and now it seems to be quite
mastering me.
"Oh, you mustn't give way" muir
INJURED Miss Power, but she did not
move. and was now very close 10 her.
II can't help it. explained. APP
parently Miss Power could not help it