The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-07-07
A TENNESSEE LOVE STORY.


hotel, "a quarter of a mile away, he turne
and came quickly toward her.
He put out his hands as though TO take
here, but she quickly put her hands behlnd
her anu stepped back. He foldei his arms
and stepped before her, looking earnestly
into the eyes that she raised 10 MS allnost
appoalingly. ,,,,,
"Katherine. he said. 81 love you. VIII
you be my wifeS"
A beautiful color stole slowly from the
ribbon at ner throat, up, up until it tinted
the edges OF her small, Lorfectly formed
ears His gaze held hers for moment;
then her oy, ids fell and their long lashos
swept her cheeks.
"Mr. Pearoe," she said, slowly and
hesltatipgly, II am sorry, but IL
can't
because you do not love meY"
She looked up quickly into his face;
then down again; but she did not reply.
Katherine, tell me, he SAID, why II
Is that you cannot marry meY'
"Because'- she was very busy dislodg-
ing half buried stone with the toe of
her shoe because-you are Yankee.
Another swift glance met his steady
look. Then she moved a little further
away ana stood half-turned from him.
lis first impulse was TO laugh. But that
passed almost as it camo. The gray
nrass- buttoned riding habit, the flushed
checks and bright eyes with which she
mad listened TO "Dtxle, flashed across
his mental vision. kThe Yankee" might
be an obstacle not TO be laughed away.
"But / am not n Yankee" " no said,
with emphasis. II am from Illinois.
IL seemed long time TO both that they
stood in silence. Again she was the first
to speak - ,
''Yes, n very wet rain" no replied.
ooh, you are goihg 10 Jest about it"
I xFall IN Fnnl
idly TO whore she stood. What mean
is that you will get wet. The water Is
beginning 60 drip from the leaves.
Here stripping of his coat, lot me put
this around You.
"Oh. no. she said, stepping back.
"But you must. The air is chill, and
IL you get wet you will catch cold.
But you-you--"
"It won't hl rs me bit. Come.
Ho assumed commanding tone, and
that or something else, accomplished his
end, for she made no effort To free her
self when he placed the coat about her
shoulder. 1t took n long time to get IL
fixed Just right, and his arm was still
around her when he looked into her face
and saw that she was looking up into
his Something in her eyes prompted
him To draw her close To him, and TO say
very tenderly:
Sweetheart. / came from the North,
but love southern RlrI. Ion YOU
think she can love Northern man just
n little II he Is not n YankeeY'
She studied the arrangement OF his
hectic closely. and then transferred her
scrutiny to his watch chain. But
evidently she was not thinking OF other,
for when she spoke, she asked
illinois people aren't Yankees
Certainly not F" no replied with con-
viction. "They are a long way from
Yankeedom. More than thousand
miles I"
sSne examined the hectic neain, and
looked into his eyes for moment, then
over his shoulder off into the rain.
katherine, he said, softly, 'do you
love me?"
She turned her head slowly until their
eyes met. A wave of color rushed into
her cheeks, and she murmured. family
YES
"And you will bo my wifeg"
With perhaps a sudden thought OF her
surroundings, and o. stormy day three
years before, she replied; ~ surrender.
The raiu as If 10 hide tho scene from
any possible observer, fell moro heavily
Tor % moment Then IL ceased altogether,
and -sean-the- sun sheHe- through fFeH
the blue sky where the gray clouds had
parted. st. Louis Republic