The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1898-07-22
. NOR IN ANY SON OF MAN" "

" NOR IN ANY SON OF MAN."
A boy and girl walked silently side
by side down the long, winding path
under the trees. In the house behind
the rest Of the household were at
breakfast. They calne at last to a
wicket leading into lane. He went
through, and, after moment, held it
for her. She went through, and stood
beside him. He looked down on her,
even admiringly. He despised girls !:
he always had deSpsed them. They
were useful and, preferably, beautiful;
but, compared to men, physically,
mentally and morally, simple neg
ligible quantity. But he had a preju-
dice in favor Of her. She was his own.
This time yesterday she had not been
his own-exccpt IN contemplation.
He could recall now the ridiculous
feeling of unwOrthinCss he had had as
he tod her lie loved her,
Mary drew her fingers slowly down
the barrel Of his gun.
Poor little rabbits she said.
! He had been on The point Of again
mentioning the everlasting love and
protection he intended for her, to-
gcther with his conviction that she,
aud she alone. could minister to his
personal comfort but how could a
man when girl said things like that:
Nonsense !" he said, and jerkcd
his gun away quite irritably.
Mary handed him his tin of sand
wiches aud went half a step toward
the gate, and then turned again and
looked up at him. She had clear eyes,
like an uudisturbed pool.
What time shall you be back?'
she asked. Even her voice did not re-
proach him.
"Oh, | don't know. Why?"
We're going to call on this new
bride and bridegroom honeymooning
down here
"Dut that has nothing to do with
me-"
"N-no." She looked uncertainty
up the lane.
"Has it?"
mo"
He bent his head to kiss her, but
did not arrive at doing it.
81 thought Thought -" said
Mary; 81 thought, perhaps, if | was
not at home when you got back you'd
be disappointed"
"Wcll, ! must come home when I've
done, mustn't L."
"Of COURSE" said Mary.
His gun was hooked in his left arm
He put his right round Mary's should
er. "When you are my wife," he said
"you will be very glad for me to shoot
rabbits" lie put his hand under hel
chin and lifted her face. And agai'
the feeling came over him that ther'
was something holy about Mary
something ever so much better thar
himself. He kissed her hastily ant
Strengthened himself, to realize in hi
superior inches how all-round superio
he really was.
Mary's finger was round his top but
ton. "Shall you always love me-?
, she whispered. Its so wonderful !
"Or course. How can you ask sucl
absurd questions?"
"And you'll never want to love an
body else?"
"When a man has once chosen, h
has chosen. It's women who chop an,
change about. And man ought ney
er to forgive a woman who does"
lie embraced her again, .mucl
pleased that he was able TO do 1t with
out dropping his gun.
At high noon he lay in the shade
the trees, and several small dea
things lay between him and his dol
, lie locked up at the sky and wishe
0 Mary had had more sandwiches cul
: She would have to learn what man
appetite was. And while he though
: OF Mary, and while what he had drum
S from his flask was still hot In hi
8 throat and halfway down under hl
9 waitcoat, 1t seemed to him that b
loved her very much. Probably u
. man had ever loved a girl quite 8
much. And 1t was passing comfort''
. BILE to be In love, but perhaps II woui'
be even more comfortable to be mar
rled.
Then the warmncss OF his threa
aud down under his waistc0at bccam
: Q delicious vaguencss OF IDEAS II
perceived that the sky was extremsl