The Saint Paul globe., 1899-02-12

never come true? Why. of course, am go
lng," she cried, little disappointed that he
did not share her rapture. "Ah, Roddy do say
you are pleased tou''
L will say nothing of the kind he
answered, almost roughly. why should be
pleased that you are going away from US, who
love you to strange folk, who have never
bothered themselves about you all this time?"
They are not strange, they are my own
mothers people, and 1t is not their fault that
We have seen nothing of each other" said
Sheila, Indignantly. "Ah, think how lovely it
viii be to see ali the places you read about in
books, and to go to dances and theaters."
And what OF Us, left here without you?
Have you thought of that?' said the young
man.
But it will not he for long, and there is
really only you and Maggie who will miss
me- You know that father never really
wants to see me-
But II always want to see you,' he said,
with suppressed vehemence.
"Ah but, Roddy, dear surely you would
not grudge me this little bit of pleasure? ?'
sail Sheila, in her soft, caressing Irish voice.
| The boat was under the lee of a wooded
island just now, and for answer he shipped
his oars, and with swift, dexterous move
ment stepped forward to her end of the boat,
and, kneellng ar her feet, drew the small,
sunburnt hands into his clasp.
| 'Oh, Roddy Roddy, don't be silly!" she
said, petuantly, making vain effort to free
them.
"Sheila, you have laughed me down when I
have tried to speak, but now will be heard!'
his dark, handsome face vivid with emotion.
L grudge every word you speak to another
every smile you give, every breath you draw,
away from me. 1t has been bad enough here
where could see you every day, but you talk
quite easily of going away, among strangers
and strange places, while it wrings my very
heart to think Of it, Sheila, you shall love me-
you must; what can your heart be, if all my
love does not touch you in the least?"
The words came leaping from his lips; his
voice was trembling.
Generations before the Joyces, like other
Irish families, had intermarried with Span
iards, and in this branch the foreign type kept
recurring again and again. Just as the name
Roderic was the old Spanish Roderigo mod
| ifed; and the man who was pleading for
Sheila's love had all the fire and passion of
a Southern race
But the girl onlv looked at him with Sc
rene, friendly eyes.
But, Roddy, 1 am very fond of you; only,
it does seem ridiculous for you to talk to me
like that, and all because 1 am going to stay
with my friends
"Ah! don't you know why I am frightened?
Here, 1 could think that, at last, you might
get to care for me, but there man, with
a gift of fine speeches, will turn your head,
and win you from me-
Il am sure you can make fine speeches with
anyone" said Sheila, smiling a little; "and
Roddy, dear, after I have been out and seen
the world a little, I shall be all the more con-
tent to settle down here for the rest of my
days"
Roderic shook his head sadly.
No, no! More likely you will despise our
quiet, humdrum ways. Sheila, dearest, can
you not make up your mind to be content
with one mans devotion, and stay with US
here? Or will you see the world with me?
Marry me. and I will take you where you
like"
But it was her turn to shake her head
/ NO, no, want to see the world on my own
account. When a woman is married every
thing is settled and finished for her.
! will you, at least, promise me- before you
go, that you will marry me at last?' he de-
manded, desperately.
But that would be nearly as bad And,
besides, perhaps might see someone else
might like better" said Sheila, with great
frankness
The sudden grip on her hands startled and
hurt her.
Hush, Sheila, hush! you drive me mad
Wnen you speak like that he cried, fiercely:
L will give You up to no one"
who is making fine speeches now?" she
said, trumphantly. 'Of course you would
have to give me up if I really wanted to
marry someone else but I do not think it is
at all likely, because I have always got on SO
very we'll with you
The man gaZed at her with sort of ex-
asperation. She was such child her heart
was so absolutely untouched that he was
speaking in an unknown tongue to her-a ter
ror came upon him lest some other man