The Delta independent., 1899-12-08

time. aid Mra Stuart "wouldn't II.
Bessis!''
The girls face was in her banda A
muttered word came from between tie
fingers.
"Then the end Of the month";" sail
Mrs. Stuart. land now you'd better say
good night. The girls bit overcome
with the hsat. Good night. Ben. CONS
again tomorrow"
Ben strobe beyond her.
will you marry me. Eessie?'' no
asked sharply. Let's hear you say it -
Mrs. Stuart smiled triuEphantly in
the darkness.
Yes" faltered Bessie. with rosr,-
ing look.
And he snstched her in his arms and
kissed her.
In the morning Ben was ct wor';
among his cabbsges aud peas, and tho
remem brance Of that kiss was on hiu
~ he worked.
That evening there was . glorious
dusk with . south wind. Ben. saving
wood. paused with the crussous saw half
through = piece Of timber aud drew his
horny hand across his forehead.
He was SO far away that he quite
started to hear = light football close be-
eide him. He looked around, and there
dawDed an sstounded expression and
then raptuYous glow ON his face.
"Bessiev' he exclaimed. ''Bsssie!"
lie put out his arms. What more per-
fectly natural than that she 1hould slip
into them?
But she only smiled and SHOOK her
lead.
.'I've come to have bit Of talk TO
you. Ben, khe said. aud q new con
sciousress Of her power over this big.
hulking fellow armed her with
strength which was only born for the
occasion and which would have brought
u smile TO her stepmother's face.
~ don't quite know how to Begin"
she said, "but-but don't believe yoa
care extra much for me yet. do yoa,
Ben? Not sstonishingly much?"
'Don's I, tbouRhw he burst out.
Look here. Bess. would you believe is,
I've thouRht of you every moment Of
this blessed day. Ny word!"
She set her mouth. Then II you
care for me that much can ask you To
do something for me-"
''Any mortal thing. nv sitl."
"You could give me up. couldu't
you? Couldr's you? Couldn't you? oh.
E. i'm that miserable till you Civ.
me up and 60 aud tell my mother that
your don't want me! But, oh. Ben,
don't let her know I told you! There's
lots Of other girls, and you dou't want
me, do you! Say you don't. just say.
Aoust Svane wnu passia ~
He said IL sitter her mechanically.
Watching her hands twisching nervous
ly as his shirt sleeve.
II don't want you, Bessie. he said.
land. by heavens. won't have you "
it's aRen your willF'
She stopped her head and her warm
lips pressed grateful kiss ON bis earth
soiled wrist.
He told her mother about q. his eyes
roaming Fssslessly shout shs parios Of
Eessis's home.
On Sunday Bessie went to church and
wore her big lace hat and sat beside her
mother
Ben was on the opposite side Of the
aisle aud farther down the church. but
he could have looked at her II he had
wished. He never once turned his head
and Bessie watched him. even st
prayers.
When the service was over. be ssood
MP, head aud shoulders above every one,
snd IL appeared to Bessie his eyes were
certainly on the door.
He raised his hat and passed ON. hold.
ing his head hiah-an unconscious di-
plonssisS Presently shs saw him strid-
shx ii Ia.
longod to him rs well as the home on
It's ride
Two months went by. Ben took mp
his measure Of days and dealt with
them NJ well as he was able. but the
evenings. when the cnbbnges and the
peas were carrying on their lives with
out him. when hts wnshirg up was
done and the wind WAS stealing In tbs
darkness around his home, then no
staid to wonder how he wss ever going
to take tomorrow into BITS hands
He always took it. however. and IL
was always coming.
"Ws'd have had . 6re of an even
ing" be nd two months after he hsd
given hef up.
There seemed n tremendous amount
Of irony In cutting frewood. TO HE sim
pie mind.
A light footstep sounded behind him.
He started, and there dawned an a.
founded expression. then . rapsurous
glow ON his face.
''Bessis!" he exclaimed. bessie"
She tried 10 smile. but her face was
white and afraid. and her lips quivered.
1--we conceive come to see you.
Ben, she SD and was SO unconscious
Of her power over him shat she trem-
hled