The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-11-07
81 have something Of the greatest

nave SOlu6tIluS Ct the SlSdCeSG
Importance to say to you.
Die he imagine it or did she nestle
closer to himf He must have been mis-
taken, and to show that he was quite
sure he edged away from her as much
as the somewhat narrow confines of the
sleigh would allow
"What do you wish to say. Mr. Phil
ips9''
"Mister" Phillips. Ah, then she was
offended. To be sure she had always
called him that, but after his Lass re-
mark it must have an added signifi-
canoe.
I-er-do you like sleigh riding p
"Why. of course. or else I wouldn {
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 thati He knew his place This
beautiful girl was not for faint heart
ed caitiff like himself.
"Nun-nun-nO, to be sure not I
er-thought that was why you came .
Mildred turned her gazellelike eyes
upon him. "Im afraid l dent under
| stand you"
That settled it. If she didn't under
stand him when he talked of nothing
in particular, he must be very blind in
his utterance. and he could never trust
his tongue to carry such heavy freight
| as declaration of love. No, there was
nothing to do but postpone it. After
all, her house was the best place for it.
T 9 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 WON
en- 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 pointed
ly. ''Is it so that more people get en-
| gagged in winter than in summer2" Sht
blushed as she spoke. 1t was unmaiden
| ly, but he was such dear gump. Nov
he would declare himself. But she die
not know the capabilities for self re
preston of her two year admirer.
| He said to himself: What a slip
what a delightful slipl If 1 were un
principled, would take advantage o
it and propose. but would bitterly re
| proach myself forever, whatever her an
ever was" So he said, in as matter O
fact tone as he could master, when hi
heart was beating his ribs like fright
ened cageling. 81 really can't answe
ofhand. but I'll look it up for you.
''Do. Write letter to the newspa
per-"
| Her tones were as musical as ever
but Littlewood thought he detected
sarcastic ring in them, and he thanket
his stars that he had not yielded to hi
natural desire to propose at such al
inauspicious time.
"What was that important thin,
you wanted to sayf' asked Miss Far
rington after several minutes of 81
lence, save for the hoofs and the run
kners and the bells.
"Oh. it wasn't Of any Importance
mean it will keep-I-er-I was think
ing Of something else
81 think you have gone far enough,
said che innocently, looking over he
shoulder in the direction of home. May
be the return would loosen his obdurat
tongue.
His heart stopped beating and lay,
leaden thing. in his breast. Had he
then. gone too far3 What had he said
Oh. why had he come out with thi
lovely being. the mere sight Of WHOM
was enough to make any one cast all re
straint to the winds and declare il
thunderous tones that he loved her?
81 think that we'd better go back,
he said. and turned SO quickly that b
nearly upset the sleigh. "Your mothe
will be anxious.
"Yes. when one is accountable t
ones mother, one has to remember time
I suppose it is different when one is &C
countable to a.
"Fatherr :" said Litt]ewood, asininely
"No. that wasn't the word l want
ed"
"A-a-aunt 2"
| Could Mildred love him if he CAV
many more such proofs of being an ali
ject idiot2
"No-husband is what l want
Littlewood's brain swan. He ha
been tempted once too often. This naiv
girl had innocently played into hi
hands, and now the Rubicon must b
crossed. even if its angry waters en-
gulfe' him
pardon ME, Miss-er-Mildred"-
he did not say Mildewed this time-''i
twist your words into another near
ing. but if you-er-did-er- want
husband-do you think I would do?"
A head nestled on his shoulder, a lii
tie hand was in his, and when he pass
ed the harrington mansion neither b
nor she knew it.-Charles Battell Loo