The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-03-03
LOVE TRIUMPHED.

DrotnerS In arms LOT ~ years and ChumS
since their school days.
when Mary hns dono with her govern
ess, and your boy has seen u couple of
years service, we will marry them' said
Colonel Cliyo to General Verrinder
Their wishes were communicated in due
course to tho young pooplo concerned
And, humanity being by nature contra
dictory, the inevitable result of all this too
palpable patornal planning and manou-
vering was that, when they met for tho
first timo since curly childhood, tho young
man and tho girl ut onco conceived mu-
tual aversion to each other
They called Frank Verrindor Dandy in
his Iegimont, and sho hated fop. She
was high spirited, independent damscl,
who rode and trampcd tho rugged Cornish
country about her homo in Ill weathers.
She mentally accused him of cffcminacy
He regarded her with languid disfavor
and suspected that sho had temper Tho
old men watched with disnay tho threat
cncd collapse of their cherished scheme
Ono morning Colonel Give took tho girl
to task for her conduct-the worst course
he could have chosen probably, for sho
WIS not u young lady to DO coerccd. She
was waiting for her horse to como round
from the stables.
"Mary," he said, ''you pretend to care
"You dear old dad, what question:
She pntted him on tho arm with her silver
mounted riding whip.
''Then why don't you show it, my dear,
by being little moro civil to Frank?"
II am civil to himl'
lara your said tina colonel, with q
fiickoring smile. II don't like to conora-
dict young lady, but am under tho i'm
preston that you were positively rude to
him last night!'
"Ho was irritating-very. 1 am sure 1
was right, and, anyhow, he shouldn't
have contradiCtod me fatty" Sho paused
"Wns 1 rudo?' she queried.
Tho colonel nodded
She threw n careless arm about him and
leaned her head back against his breast.
dad, I'm afraid I'm littlo beast"
she remarked pensively, with her eyes on
the glow between tho tears.
"Scarcely-er-a-littlo beast I think
Only q wee bit thoughtless and willful,
child. You should try to remember no
is our guest, and it is your place to make
him Welcome"
''I'll be nice to him, to make up for last
night. I'll ask him to forget what said
and ride with mo-"
Mary crossed tho hall with the swift
gait of woman Of perfect health and pro-
portions and opened the library door. In
big saddleb0g armchair on tho hearth
rug rcclincd Dandy, with n cigarette be-
tween his lips and unutterabo boredom
in his face.
Going out, Miss Clive?' no queried,
throwing away the cigarette and rising to
his feet.
I've como to tell you,'' she began, with
gulp, "that Pm afraid was rather rude
last night, and to say that I'm sorry
,1f,,,1 -
It's SO wholly unnecessary"
They looked mt each other
Il am going for ride" sho said jerkily.
So concluded from your dress. Is it
wise? It'll rain in half an hour. You'll
be caught
81 thought-er-would you caro- to nc
company me." She spoke almost nervous
ly.
az thinknot. Th-a-nks!" ho responded.
81 hate getting wet for nothing you know.
1t seems foolish
She had mado TN advance to him, and
he had rejected it. The light Of battle
shone in her eyes.
'Ono would think TINT you were q piece
of sugar that would melt" she Cried ~
wonder what you would do IL there were
war and yonr regiment were ordered to
the 'front.' I believe you would exchange"
DO your" he said placidly
Yes, F." She painted. And if were q
man, and any ono rs good as called me
coward, l would never speak to thom
again"
ANY ono and 'sho' or 'hc, not thom.
1t isn't grammar" he corrected gently.
81 shouldn't go too far IL wcru you Pm
suro wO'ro going to have u Storm
She SO far permitted herself to forget
her manners as to slam tho door.
Mary, will you marry mop"
"No, thanks"
Ho had asked her to share his lfo in tho
samo tono as he would have asked her for
valsc.
1t was n couple of weeks later, and tho
following day his leave would expire
II hope" ho said slowly, "you don't
think that l was impcrtincnt or dense
enough to assume for an instant that your
answer would be different. Tho governor
wished mo TO propose TO You, and tho dear
old chaps boon SD good to mo oil my lifo
that 1 should bonn ungratoful cad If had
refused to Oboy him."
"You needn't apologize" sho retorted
with scorn. "Belicvc me, labored under
no dolusion respecting your reason. 1t
must DO Il great rol!of to you to have 1t
safely over, us it is to me-
Perhaps it was because sho was SO re-
lloNcu tllisl SilC Ncpt S!Orinlly Ill ner room
as sho dressed for one OF her customary
cross country tramps. Wonon arc com
plox creatures.
Dnndy's behavior, too, was somewhat
incomprchensiblc. 10 sighed as tho door
closed behind her and stroled about tho
room whistling Tho Costors Sercnato"
ont of tune.
The sorcEado came TO IN ond in dismal
minor rs the general and his host entered.