Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1897-06-25

and chat and walk and ride with, to
conade in, TO sympathize Without 10
make love to-never Be Sensible
now do, you dear old bear Why, IN
three months you will be ready to
thank me for having shown you your
mistake"
He caught reproachiully at the sug'
gestion in her last words. "Ah how
little you know me after oil, to think
me so 6ckle, so false. In three months,
then, so be it; three months from to.
dey / shall show you my heart oil
unchanged and claim an answer to my
question. Meanwhile, promise me,
dear, you will try not only to appre'
ciate my love, but to give me some In
return, IL ever 80 little. can wait.
can bide my time in patience. You
must sec that the boy.and.girl aztec
ton, good of it's kind, could not last,
yet makes secure foundation for this
stronger, true love. Only try to love
me, my Marcia. Give me-give your
self-time. Only three little months
Meanwhile.no word, no look shall an
noy you. My love shall still masquer'
ade in friendships guise." Marcia
demurred. "For old sake's sake, dear"
he pleaded, and Marcia hesitated,
then yielded.
"Three months, then" she said.
Even had he so desired, Tom would
have found little opportunity during
the ensuing week to press his suit
There were many to claim her as part.
ner In tho rides, drives, dances and
picnica which made Orviile gay in the
summer season. Sho did not avoid
him, but she let herself be so monop-
olized by others and was SO serenely
Indifferent to his tender Chances that
he was piqued and felt small desire
to try to pique her in return. The OPP
portunity he sought seemed at last to
come. A school friend came to visit
Marcia. She had, Of course, been de.
scribed to Tom with many charming
superlatives.
"She is 80 beautiful, so gentle, SO
sweet" said Marcia, "you will be sure
to like her, and you must help NE to
make her enjoy her visit. Be sure to
call soon and often"
Tom said 70 himself at first that he
would do nothing OF the sort; then
suddenly came plan, G purpose, none
the less strong because so quickly
formed. He would try Marcia by OF.
tention this friend of hers. He would
see IL he could not start spark of
jealousy, and prove that for all her
apparent indifference some fire Of
love smoldered in her heart. "All's
fair in love and war;" no exclaimed
as conscience warned him that this
course was neither manly nor honora.
ble.
Miss Arnold came, q doll faced
blonde with appealing eyes and sweet,
confd;ng ways. She adored Marcia
strong, intellectual Marcia-with O
school girls passion, and Marcia, on
her part, gave Annette tonder, pro.
tecting love.
Tom found the game of pique de-
lightful, although he could not make
sure whether or not Marcia cared. In
deed, in his enjoyment of Miss Ar
nold's society hequite forgot to watch.
He was disconnected whenever anyone
else engaged Miss Arnold's attention.
He felt grievous lack in any day
which did not give him some words
with her alone. The touch Of her
wind.tossed ribbons thrilled him, the
rose dropped from her hair gathered
cigar scent in his pocket. In fact, his
heart had passed from his keeping be-
fore he realized shameIully enough
that Marcia had been right in calling
his admiration of her feetng fancy.
But Marcia, whose love lie had sought,
was he right in thinking that she was
changed, distract? The cause? All!
that he sought in vain, and at last, in
sheer despair, he gave up to the whole.
some fact that no man can know n
woman's mind unless she tells tiff
she eau.
The inevitable crisis came. 4 merry
party had been making the round Of
the golf links lately established, and
had been driven homo by q summer
shower. Tom had proposed to Miss
Arnold 10 try q picturesque little
mountain path. It was rough. He
apologized proiusely for suggesting a
way 80 unfit for her tread, but 1 can.
not say he regretted q choice which
made II necessary for her to lean on
his arm SO often, so frequently accept
the aid of his hand. On o declivity
her foot ahmed. He cauQht her in
his arms. And then-the dear face
was 80 tantalizingly, 80 irresistibly
near his own-instead OF releasing her
he pressed her close, close to his heart
and dropped his lips to hers in long,
clinging caress.
A quick flush, half OF Joy. half OF
modesty, dyed her face, and her lashes
dropped over the love-liRht in her
eyes. He would have poured ont his