The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1898-04-08


of incredulous scorn as he concluded.
"And Tom thought-shan't pour you
another cup of tea?"
THANK you; what were you about to
say?"
II did say it. asked if you would have
another cup of tea"
No, but about what Tom thought"
"Oh! Tom thought you'd sleep right
along till tomorrow morning." she re-
piled, with unblushing effrontery. "And
that reminds me: Henry's been down
to inquire after you, and told him
you'd pay your respects at The Laurels'
this afternoon
"How did you know would?"
II knew you'd do anything promised
for you"
'Well (since you've committed your
self) suppose I'll have to 60"
"Oh, please don't!" she urged, teas
ingly. Its long, long walk, and it's
so dreadfully hot; I'd go back to bed
again, if were you"
"And impugn your reputation for
truth and veracity ?-that would be
very unthankful; you see you've made
it impossible for me not to CO." Then,
with diplomatic abruptness: Haven't
you anything to tell me before
start?''
"You asked me that question last
night, and I'll make you the same
answer: you may give Hester my love-"
THANK you so much. Perhaps shall
go back to New York tomorrow
Perhaps you will; and perhaps the
world came to an end yesterday. 1
think one is about as probable as the
other"
"Oh! then you know of some good
reason why should stay"
"Yes, the best of reasons: you're not
able to travel, yet"
Ringbrand laughed and reached for his
hat. "Just watch me climb that hill,
and then you may repent at leisure" he
said.
An hour later he was comfortably
upon the veranda of the
colonel's home, lounging invalid-wise
in the library easy-chair which Hester
had insisted upon dragging out for him.
They had been talking about the feud,
his imprisonment in the cave, and all
the exciting events of the past few
days; and Ringbrand had been trying
with palpable effort at tingenuousness
to bring the conversation around by
easy and graduated approaches to the
subject nearest his heart. On
the long walk up the noun
tain he had forecast the manner
of these approaches with such strict
fidelity to details that he now found
it impossible to break away from the
of set speeches and sup
posed answers, and every fresh endeav-
or seemed to involve him more hope
lessly. Even the perversity of mani
mate objects added to his helplessness.
How could one talk upon serious sub
jects from the lazy rostrum of an easy
chair whose high back took away the
last vestige of ones dignity ?-and
when he sat up the comfortable hollow
IF the low seat brought his knees and
his chin together in an attitude thatwas
pathetically inadequate to the require
ments of the case. Once or twice he
had tried to rise, but Hester had pro-
tested playfully, saying that he must
consider himself an invalid, if only
for that afternoon. To add to his en-
barrassment, she left her own chair and
began to saunter up and down the ver-
anda in front of him, shipping dead
leaves from the ivy on the railing as she
talked.
He watched her furtively while the
car of idle talk ran smoothly over end
less stretches of track wherein there
were no crossings or switches, until
the subtle intoXication of her beauty
began to make his replies irrelevant.
At last she stopped just opposite his
chair and leaned over the railing to re-
cover a wandering spray of ivy; while
she stood there with her back toward
him, he broke off in the middle of SEN
tence and said abruptly: Miss Hes
ter, | love you very much"
She recovered herself instantly, and
he saw the suppressed laughter in her
eyes as she turned toward him. He
was on his feet in a moment. miss
Latimer, l beg your pardon-indeed
dot wasn't at all what meant-oh,
horrors, what am saying!- did mean
it, only 1 didn't intend saying it just
that way. Please don't laugh at me;
it'll break my heart; I'm dreadfully in
if l do talk like an imbecile.
Hester, dear, do you love me just a
little, and will you be my wife?"
He was holding her hand now, and
looking down into her face with an
appeal in his eyes that quite atoned
for the halting speech, and she hid her
face on his shoulder, saying: 'Oh, I'm
so glad!"
Glad of what, Hester?" he asked,
drawing her closer to him.
Her face was suffused with bushes
when she raised it shyly to his, but the
still twinkled in her eyes.
"a