Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1899-01-14

sASN 'tfAh-
And he snatched her in his arms and
kissed her.
In the morning Ben was at work
among his cabbages and peas. and the
remembrance of that kiss was on him
as he worked.
That evening there was a glorious
dusk with "A south wind Ben, saving
wood, paused with the crosscut saw half
through IA piece Of timber and drew his
horny hand across his forehead
He was so far away that he quite
started 10 hear light football close be-
side him He looked around, and there
dawned an astounded expression and
then rapturous glow on his face.
"Bessie" he exclaimed. "Bessie!'
He put out his arms What more per
fectly natural than that she should slip
into them?
But she only smiled and shook her
head
I've come to have bit of talk to
you, Ben, +" she said, and new con
sciousress of her power over this big,
hulking fellow armed her with n
strength which was only born for the
occasion and which would have brought
smile to her stepmother's .ace.
II don't quite know how to begin.
che said "but-but don't believe you
care extra much for me yet. do you.
Ben? Not astonishingly mich?'
Don't |. thought" he burst out
Look here. Bess would you believe it,
Two flnr.stbf nF al
this blessed day My word
She set her mouth. Then If you
care for me that much | can ask you TO
do something for me.
ANY mortal thing. my girl. 3"
lyon could give me up. couldn't
you? Couldn't you: Couldn't you? Oh,
Ben, I'm that miserable till you give
me up and go and tell my mother that
your don't want me! But. OH, Ben.
don't let her know told you'll There's
lots of other girls. aud you don't want
me, do you: Say yen don't. just say
| don't want you. Bessie
He said il after her mechanically.
watching her hands twltching nervous
~ at his shirt sleeve
hbn 4 want efNf AfiTNiNs nv Stiihai
land. by heavens | won't have you if
it's agen your will! =
She stopped her head and her warm
lips pressed grateful kiss on his earth
soiled wrist
He told her mother about it, his eyes
roaming restlessly about the parlur Of
Bessie's home
n,, sunday RasSte 30 fshprri.
wore her big lace hat and sat beside her
mother
Ben was ON the opposite side of the
aisle and farther down the church, but
he could have looked at her if he had
wished He never once turned his head
and Bessie watched him. even at
prayers
When the service was over, he stood
up. head and shoulders above every one.
and il appeared to Bessie his eyes were
certainly on the door
He raised his hat and passed on. hold
ing his head hiph-an unconscious di
plomatist Presently she saw him strid
ing down the road as though il all be-
longed to him as well as the home on
its side
Two months went by Ben took mp
his measure Of DAYS and dealt with
them rs well a. he was able. int tho
evenings. when the cabhages and the
peas were carrying on their lives with
ont him, when his washing M was
done and the wind was stealing iii the
darkness around his home, then he
staid to wonder how be was ever going
to take tomorrow into his hands
He always took it. however. and il
was always coming
Wed have had a fire. Of an even
ing, he said two months after he had
given her up
There seemed a tremendous amount
Of irony IN cutting firewood. To his sim
pie mind
a light footstep sounded behind him
He started, and there dawued au as
founded expression then rapturous
glow on his face
Bcssiel" he exclaimed Bessiei
She tried to smile. hut her face was
white and afraid, and her lips luiverrd
Il We come-Iyo come o. Seq you
Ben, she said and was So unconscious
Of her power over him that suo treu
blcd
81 suppose suppose that you dan't
care about ine yet Ben Da yau Iou
don I care bit, do you Benz
What do You want plamiue me
for be- burst out ',au yau letme
atone. Are Won wanting me ta i..a ye-
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