Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-02-27

Dull there WdS uO COHCSdiluS Tie SiHO-
ton she had passed through.
Where is Garment" she articulated,
as well as she was able.
Carmen has been called indoors,
and came here In search of you. Why
have you deserted us, Margaret? what
is the matter?'
Nothing"
That's not true Something must
have been the cause of these tears.
Are you unhappy, Pearl?'
Eyes; am unhappy" burst forth the
girl, passionately; because : because
you like Carmen better than you do
me-
who told you SOP
t'I can see it. I have been watching
you just now under the mulberry-tree,
and-and- took her hand and held
it,
Ruthven did not reply, except by
taking Pearls hand and pressing it.
She. snatched it away.
Don't do that, You only do it to
please me, and it's no good
ooh, Margaret, if you only knew
"I do know. have guessed it. Don't
tell me any more. have always felt I
was not worthy to be your friend-I,
whom you picked up from the gutter;
but wish you had never talked to me,
nor had taught me anything, because
it is SO much harder to bear now than
it would have been"
Ruthven was trembling with delight.
Every word the child in her innocence
uttered brought him nearer and nearer
TO the blessed truth, that she loved him
and was jealous of his affection, and
that if ne offered, she would accept it
from his hands. But. like an angler
who has secured his fish, he began to
play with it.
What is harder to bear, my dear?"
Your caring for Carmen. Of course,
she's filter for you to care for than l
am-and if it hadn't been her it would
have been somebody else, and then I
must have gone away; only it is so
soon, and you spoke so GROSSLY TO me
at dinner, though l didn't mean to say
anything wrong-and-and l am SO
miserable said Margaret, incoherent-
| ly, as she burst into another flood of
tears.
Ruthyen let her cry herself out be-
| fore he spoke again. Then he said:
Pearl, have you ever thought that /
may marry some day."
"Oh! don't
What! don't marry. Well, it all
depends upon you whether do or not. -
Upon me? How can that be-"
| Because there is only one girl in
all the world that I would make my
wife, and am not sure if she will have
me-"
! Can I make her do SOP
4 think you can. l am afraid she
will think am too old and gray to be
| her husband-perhaps she will say
| am too stout
| ooh, Mr. Ruthven, don't laugh about
| it,
.tOr she may not like my double eye
| glasses, or my gray hair, or a dozen
| other things: but if I tell you her name,
will you promise to try and pursuade
| her to marry me, Margaret"
eff I can," replied Margaret, in sti-
! fed voice.
/ oh, I am sure you can, if you
, choose, because you know her so we'll
and all her likes and dislikes. But
| don't let her answer in hurry. Tell
her to take time to consider, and not
| say No all at once"
What is her name?"
Come nearer, and I will whisper it
| to you.''
The girl obeyed him, and Ruthven
put his arm round her waist and drew
the small, wet face against his own.
..Oh, Mr.. Ruthven, you mustn't! She
wouldn't like it.'
go and ask her, then; but you don t
yet know who she is. Well, then, lis
ten. The girl whom 1 love best in all
the world, and want to have for my
very own is called-put your face closer
or somebody may overhear us-she is
called Margaret O'Reilly.''
Mr.. Ruthven, you are laughing at
me-"
Laughing at you, my sweetest. No:
1t is I who fear you may laugh at me-.
Pearl, tell me it is not all the insanest
folly on my part. Say you will try TO
consider whether it is not possible you
may be my Wife
But the girl could not speak. She
was dumb with surprise, excitement
and pleasure. She could only FAY pas
sive in Ruthyen's arms while he COW
cred her face and hands with kisses.
He was fi,uS occlrpiod Whon ana