The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-20

en. orhter, seeweu pumpkin. stewed ,ofn. DICK
and floating island and crab apple telly-all
trembling and glowing upon the table at the
Minerva scr sed her guests faithfully, but
she ate little herself.
When the dishes had been washed and the
floor swept, Mrs. Bunt stood the broom up sim
Is behind the kitchen door. while Minerva hung
the dish.pen out on the porch and stretched
Now, Lily Belle" said Mrs. Bunt, firmly,
pulling down her sleeves, we'll 20 in tho
se,tin'-room, Doug an Mincrvy's a-goin' to
I'D Just rs soon go along, Mis- Bunt.".
We'll. / guess they'd liAe to be alone a leetle
while-on Christmas, too" .
Wed Just us soon have her along of us"
spoke up the young man. With a red tose,
tied. Yuh N Minerva 20 on, now. I'd Ian
Il d have aybody tag me a my girl around all
dH &Eiyihtyi. s sSs iss So|nE Eu Wsn;d Lily Belle.
We'll, / w'u'd. I'd iatf." She passed near
Minerva; The days all set, she said, in a
frst day o May.",
The girls eyes glowed out of her white face.
The sunset was drawing its long, beautiful
ribbons out Of the hcryl skies, and coiling
them so low in the west In splendid loops OF
color. A strong wind was blowing up the arm.
Tho waves pounded and broke. uLon the rocks.
Once ehe shivered and drew her cape closer
about her chest, Several times she coughed;
young man at last. inditferently.
10 looked at her. You've got thinner N
when l was here last"
ITS been six months" Her voice sounded
hollow. There was u drawn look about her
1T has2 So lonU2 Why. 1t didn't seem
more IN q month"
AS he began to walk slowly. she fell into
1T seems like six years 10 me-" The words
ought TO have shaken his soul-there was such
lit all depends on the way YOU spend your
time. l s,pose.' he said; A smile came upon
his mouth: his eyes smiled. too-as in memory
The girl saw. Her breath came with q
s sSssan, that and Wa fso aim Tim a 81 spS ior She nss. ss9Dped
her heartbreak. all her despair broke loose In
that second end shook her SO that she could
she got control. too, of her roice-poor. shaken
thing that 1t was.
Why don't yph speak up?' she said ficrcoly.
Why don't tell yuh what2' He stared at
her stupidity, the smile SLOWLY, leaving his face.
me-. The words must have hurt. She pressed
both hands hard upon her throat and coughed.
Why don't yub tell me that vuh want hery".
lie had the manhood to Quail-and to insult
her by no lie.
But before he could speak her passion had
burned itself out. Her face worked strongly
and tears leaped to her eyes. singing. ''Oh.
Doug. Doug, she said, gently" ii w'u'dn't Of
had her. an I'd Of been happy a little while
first: 1t w'm'dn,t of been more n a y%earIn1'
she 8 SO well an pretty. she c'u'd OF waited.
But It's all right. iuh go an have her. an
don't worry about me. l guess the worst p art
Of it's over now. One thing. dyin' won't be
hat so hard She sank down upon a rock and
turned her face down the arm not blue now,
but dull gray. like the sky from which all color
Vas gone. 'fuh 20 on in an tell her. ! guess
Iii stay out here a WHILE"
He stood still.
'Your-that is-your ma"
oh" she said: quickly. A culver went
across her face. II forgot her. Oh. poor ma
She arose and stood irresolute. Then she said
slowly: I'll 20 In with yuh. We won't let
her know till you n Lily Belle are gone. Then
I'll tell her myself
"She-she--"
It'll be all right she assured him. pa
tiently. She don't cross me In anything
since | got to couRhin' So"
He turned back. then. with his head up and
a glow on, his face-the happiesticoward that
eyer breathed Gods air. She went swaying
along beside him. Tho wind tore her cape
from her chest. She coughed often. Her
face as bleak az the sea; but her soul shone
like a steadfast star out of her beautiful eyes.