Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1898-09-29

81 suppose you are thinking that the
suggestion of serious intentions might
come first from you," she said; that
may be your way of looking at it, but
it is not mine. / don't care to let you
have anything to reproach me with.
have had enough of that in the past.
/ am hopeless flirt, you know. go
into the thing for the fun there is In it.
and it is only fair to warn YOU"
Lancaster laughed rather weakly
II accept the TERMS" he said. 1T is
understood that this is only fiirta-
ton"
Which he explained to Dorothy at
much length, but which she would not
understand and was so unreasonable
about as to break her engagement.
Lancaster was deeply aggrieyed and
rather more deeply relieved. But II
made one fact plain to him: that he
was seriously in love with girl who
frankly told him that he was no more
20 her than score had been before,
than scores might be thereafter. And
1t was all in vain that he tried to
change her.
81 warned you quite fairly" she re-
minded him, bending forward to stroke
the glossy neck of his black mare. 1t
was the mare that, of old, Dorothy had
considered almost her own property.
and on which she had lavished the over
flow of her affection for Lancaster. al
warned you," Miss Leeds repeated,
"and nobody has suffered but your
self, unless''-she glanced at him with
a quizzical little smile-'unless there
was another girl?"
"There was another GIRL" he an
swered.
She shrugged her shoulders tolerant
~. THAT was to have been expected.
Most problems Of the heart are in the
rule of three"
Lancaster was biting his lips. and he
was very angry. she is better wom-
an than you" he said.
THAT may be. But STILL" she
laughed, good naturally, do you think
am bad enough for you to be passing
judgment upon me?"
81 do; for you are doing the thing
cold-bloodedly, and IL" he said, de-
spondently. "have lost my head"
She smiled into his eyes. "You don't
want to do that. II is such a hand
some head. Lose your heart--it is not
worth nearly so much"
He turned In his saddle and faced
her. Il am likely TO lose more than
that" he burst out, suddenly; II am
likely TO lose my life."
"Ohi come" she said. "you are not
contemplating falling on the point OF
your saber. or drowning yourself in
the bay. or superinducing galloping
are you? l have had
men do number of things for me. but
never quite that"
what ! meant was-and what in
tended TO tell you when asked you 20
come to-day, was that ] am going TO
the war"
THAT was TO have been expected. OF
course. Is your regiment ordered?"
Not yet; am especially favored"
"When do you leave?"
THE day after tomorrow. And now
/ am going TO ask you to promise me
something"
They had refined in their horses by
the dynamite guns, and sat looking out
over the uninterrupted blue sea.
$50 that it is not something that
cannot promise"
"Not that. l shall leave that until
I oou,a haeL-{f 40 eoyna hark If1l
do not--in short, II ! am killed
she gave little shudder: he saw that
she did, and repeatedly am killed
shall leave orders that my most treas
ured possession shall be sent TO you"
do you mean this mare?"
II mean the mare. 1t will make me
as happy as II would seem am meant
to be. to know that If ! die you will
have her, and will ride her. and be kind
to her. For you are fond of her, too"
Miss Leeds knit her brows and con-
"And IL / should not? 2" she |
said.
"She shall not go to anyone else.
will have Dartmoor shoot her on the |
day that he hears my death con-
firmed.1
Miss Leeds switched at the skirt of |
her habit. as there no one else who is
fond of her, also?"
NO." he answered.
"But that other girl you told me Off"
There flashed back upon Lancaster's
how Dorothy had been wont |
to stand with her arms around the |
arched black neck. and her cheek |
against the warm, soft nose; how the
mare had followed her tamely around |
the garrison, as he would follow no |
other but himself. Then Miss Leeds |
turned the sun of her questioning
eyes upon him. They were serious
now, and their gentle light scattered
the mists OF memories. She only val
led the horse for the masters sake.
and the master is no longer anything
10 her. "Will you do as / ask"
A little, ironical smile, the smile of |
an easy-going cynicism curled her lips.
Unto the victor belong the spoils.
Yes, If anything happens to you, will |