, 1898-12-28

1--WE can go together, or we can-wt
can do the other thing"
81 don't think 1 can she said.
"Why not?' he whispered.
"I-I'm just a little afraid"
but l shall be there, dear. A rather
rough road-perhaps-at first, but to
gether, you know"
"All my people,
Reginald astonished her by the blunt
ness of his retort.
"You oughtn't to speak like that o.
them," she said responsibility.
"No, l oughtn't," he admitted
"But what l say doesn't matter. The
word is with you"
How often have l said it'll" she
cried.
but this time there seems a kind Of
finality about it," he said ruefully,
and as he spoke a hanson drove up tc
the door.
"That is Lord Roper" she exclaim.
ed, darting to the window.
"Am l to go?" he asked.
"Oh, please
GOOD by, JOAN" he said and took
his hat again.
"You will meet him on the stairs, u
she cried as Reginald stepped toward
the door.
II will stay if you like. he offered,
coming to a standstill.
~ don't think''-
"Oh, very wellr" he said, turning
away.
Perhaps you had better" she ex-
claimed, coming toward him. "And,
Reggiep"
Eyes" he said, meeting her half
way.
"n you care for the primroses''-
II do" he returned.
"Shall p
She drew quite close, and standing
on tipped toes (she was a small person.
deftly placed the bunch in the button
hole of Reginald's frock coat. Suddenly
Joan sprang away and the door opened.
Lord Roper entered with the air of a
successful wooer, but seeing Reginald
he appeared ludiorously astonished. He
stroked his dyed mustache with one
hand while he held his hat in the other.
| codh o LAW siC" Z an pCohgy anu
Reginald looked down at the bunch of
primroges in his buttonhole. His atti-
tude seemed to arrest Lord Roper's at
tention. Then he darted q sharp glance
about the room.
"Those are the first primroses l have
seen this year." he said.
"Harbingers of spring" remarked
Joan, with a smile.
lyon attach q great significance to
them. then, Miss Joan?" continued
Roper coolly.
ooh. yes; / am not like Peter Bell
she answered.
II I'm afraid l can't stay to see your
people after ALL" said Lord Roper. II
am like the Irishman," he continued.
with a smile; 81 am here only t o say l
couldn't come"
II am sorry, Lord Roper"
"Oh, we'll, it is the fortune Of war;"
he said, land the spoils go to the vic
tor"
but a battle may be drawn" she
cried. with a rather apprehensive glance
ct Reginald, land, she added, There
may not be any serious casualties"
With that she offered her hand, and
he pressed it slightly. Then he nodded
to Reginald and went away.
HE bears it we'll" said Reginald as
the door closed.
"Bears whati'' Joan asked, with q
sigh.
"Why, his defeat" answered Reg
gle; "though I don't see how he
knew
II suppose it was the primroses. " she
said demurely.
"Did he''-
"He brought them from Roper Park
this morning." she said, and Joan
sighed again.
Roper is not a bad sort of fellow"
he remarked.
"Oh, respect him immensely ~ cried
Joan.
"And you respect his diotum," Regi-
nald suggested.
"What do you meanP' she asked
quickly.
1.-THE spoils to the victor, you know"
said Reggie, and he took her hands.
"Are they worth havingf'' she whis-
pered.
"Darling'-
"And yeti
"Yes?" he said, as she stopped.
IL hesitated, Reggie, DEAR" she
murmured, dropping her eyelids.
"Still, You were not lost, he MUIR
INJURED, drawing her closer.
ut was q rather near thing" she
said. III you had not GOMEZ
"Wellf"
II might have been tempted"-
Never mind the might have been,
JOAN" he urged.
"And yet p
"Yes?"
"Oh, you know!' p sne said, hiding
her face against his coat.
"You loved me all the time, dear"
"Of COURSE
"That is all l want!' he cried.-
Thomas Cobb in Black and White.