Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-05-25

l
ways called him that, but after his
last remark it must have an added
significance.
| "I-er--do you like sleigh riding?"
"Why, of course, or else wouldn't
have come"
Did she mean that as slap at him?
Was it only for the ride and not for
his company that she had come? Oh,
he could never make an avowal OF love
after that. He knew his place. This
beautiful girl was not for a faint
hearted caitiff like himself.
"Nun-nun-no, to be sure not. I
-er-thought that was why you
came"
Mildred turned her gazelle-like eyes
upon him. "I'm afraid I don't under
stand you"
That settles it. If she didn't under
stand him when he talked of nothing
in particular, he must be very blind
to his utterance, and he could never
trust his tongue to carry such heavy
freight as a declaration of love. No,
there was nothing to do but to post
pone it. After all, her house was the
best place for it.
The horse sped on, past mantled
meadows and through pine woods full
of filtered moonlight, and Mildred
drank in the beauty of the scenes and
wished that it were decorous for
women to propose.
The night was ravishing, the sleigh.
bells jingled harmoniously, the horse
swept on with steady, rhythmic stride,
and under the influence of sweet sur
roundings Mildred at last said, point
edly; els it so that more people get
engaged in winter than in summer"
She blushed as she spoke. 1t was un-
maidenly, but he was such dear
gump. Now he would declare him.
self. But she did not know the capa-
bilities for self-repression of her two
year admirer.
He said to himself: "What slip,
what delightful slipi If I were un-
principled I would take advantage Of
1t and propose, but 1 would bitterly
reproach myself forever, whatever her
answer was." so he said, in as matter
of-fact tone as he could master when
his heart was heating his ribs like
frightened cageling: II really can't
answer off, but I'll look it up for
you"
''Do. Write letter to the news
paper.
Her tones were as musical as ever,
but Littlewood thought he detected
sarcastic ring in them, and he thanked
his stars that he had not yielded to his
natural desire to propose at such an
inauspicious time.
"What was that important thing
you wanted to say?" asked Miss Far
rington, after several minutes of
silence, save for the hoofs and the
runners and the bells.
''Oh, it wasn't of any importance.
I mean it will keep-I-er 4 was
thinking of something else."
81 think You have gone far enough"
said she, innocently, looking over her
shoulder in the direction of home.
Maybe the return would loosen his OBJ
durate tongue.
His heart stopped beating and lay,
a leaden thing, in his breast. Had he,
then, gone too far? What had he
said? Oh, why had he come out with
this lovely being, the mere sight Of
whom was enough to make any one
cast all restraint to the winds and de.
clare in thunderous tones that he loved
her?
81 think that we'd better go back"
he said, and turned so quickly that he
nearly upset the sleigh. "Your mother
will be anxious.
Eyes, when one is accountable to
ones mother one has to remember
time. 1 suppose it is different when
one is accountable to a"
"Father?" said Littlewood, asin-
inely.
"No, that wasn't the word wanted.
"A-a- -aunt?"
Could Mildred love him if he gave
many more such proofs OF being an
abject idiot?
"No, husband is what want"
Littlewood's brain swan. He had
been tempted once too often. This
naive girl had innocently played
into his hands, and now the
Rubicon must be crossed, even if it's
angry waters engulfed him.
Pardon me, Miss-er-Mildred"-
he did not say Mildewed this time
'if I twist your words into another
but if you-er-did-er-
want husband-do you think that I
would do?"
A head nestled on his shoulder, q
little-hand was in his, and when he
passed the harrington mansion neither
he nor she knew it.-Chicago Record.