The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1899-11-30
Tempting Fate.
\ HALLOWE EN- STORY.
(By Lillian Sheppard.)

ker - and reception to the teachers
deace was brilliantly Illuminated ant
beneath the light of the Chinese laE
terms suspended on the lawn, dainty
forms with their manly escorts might
be- seen strollingabou Sweet strains
OF music foated out on the pleasant
sum ner air from the screened piazza
merrjment proclaimed IA Joyous gail
ering-
AdoWn the path toward the lakelet
III IL remote corner of the grounds
SLOWLY stroll two figure-Prof Ernest
Gala way of "a renowned college, and
his dsAsnure companion, Iris Graham,
a successful school teacher of Athens,
and SO deeply absorbed are they each
In the Other that they are utterly oh
liviOps TO all else.
Ernest Galloway is son of a prom
nent, wealthy citizen, and although
he has always been what may be
termed u ''lady's man. witty, fascin-
ating and agreeable and has received
mo- little amount of encouragement
frops fair maids and their designing
mammas. yet he has remained en-
tirely heart-whole until this vacation
when. while visiting his fathers, he
fell victim of cupid's arrow enforced
by Iris Graham's bright smiles and
sweet joveable character; and so
badly wounded is he that for nearly
three months he has found it impos-
sible To remain long away from her
side Even now. while ostensibly Wis
iting the Institute, he is only employ
ing rise to be near her little long
IT. And this is the last night; the
parting is now inevitable. They must
each return to their duties. Shall he
tell her of his love, or is it best untold?
Nay, he thinks he will not, for per
haps she does not reciprocate, yet he
Ssels that she does, and he will not
spoil this last delicious evening.
Down to the lakelet they stroll in
the bright moonlight conversing on
commonplace topics each striving to
conceal the vague unrest within. He
unfastens a boat he finds there, as
sIsts nus companion to step in and
pushes idly off from shore. Idly and |
aimlessly he rows, for his thoughts
are on deeper sub ject than boating. |
They wish to be free from intrusion
for-well, because they are lovers.
Out on the CLASSY mirror-like sur
face of the lake whose ripples catch
ing the bright moonbeams make it
appear sea of silver, they glide
among the water lilies whose white
frosted petals and golden-hearts re-
tain u part of the brilliancy they
possessed before-as the legend goes
they in their loneliness and desire to
be near the children of the forest fell
from the stellar regions in the bright
moonlight rivaling their more selfish
astral brethren who stills dwell in
space Out here amid these surround
ings. with the sound of mandOlins
and dancing feet in the distance, is it
not tempting fate too sorely-is it
strange that he should. tell her of the
ardent, consuming, passionate love
which his heart holds for her. Alas,
for his previous resolutions!
81 ask of you no promise" he con-
cludes. ''for there are reasons why
cannot ask you to become my wife,
but Iris. my sweet Iris, l love you SO
dearly that felt that l could not let |
you go away from me tomorrow with
out telling you this, and Oh, | wish l
had made myself worthy of YOU
s'You ask no promise. Ernest" she |
said in her low sweet voice, land you
do not even ask for my love, but the
one is bestowed already upon you
and the other you will not prevent |
NV making You say you havenever
loved so before. neither have |. l feel
that We belong To each other. and
therefore, give YOU my sacred prom
Use TO think of YOU, and only YOU as
IN ne and you may think the same of
me
..Eut lris-oh. YOU do not mean
that, YOU cannot. You do not know
what am. kshall not consider that
promise binding
Il shall. | know that you love me
and that l love you, and that is |