The Delta independent., 1899-12-15
BEN'S DIPLOMACY.

blue print gown were rolled up past
her elbows, and her hands were yet
swollen and red from the scalding aud
chilling process.
Suddenly there came a sharp knock
ing at the hall door. and a tall, stern
featured woman thrust her head through Ia
the bathroom window. which locked
out on the back veranda.
There's some one at the door, Bes-
sic, - she said. and her whisper could
have reached to the house front.
The girl buried along the narrow
passuge. unrol.iDg her right sleeve as
s!,o went, which was the one to be pse-
sented when the door should bo opened.
Good morning. she said as serene
" as could be expected from one whose
hopes had been raised by q shadow on u
frosted pane and shattered by the open
ing Of the door.
"Good morning." said the man at
the doorstep. and his eyes smiled
crookedwise ut the knocker. which was
the exac. spot where her face was, &C.
cording to his focus Good morning
IL thought maybe you'd like come
peas. They're quite young and fresh,
auu I've Just pu!leu tnem
We've just got some, said the girl
"Johu always comes on q Saturday"
II thought mayb be you d have them. "
said the young man to the knocker.
"but p'rapr you' rather have flowers !"
The door was jerked back, and anoth-
er face appeared above the girls shout
der. The young man moved his eyes to
a hole that haa Eeen made for . latch
key.
GOOD morning. Mrs Stuart.'' he
said eagerly. IL just looked round
to see If Miss Bessie wouldn't like some
fresh young peas. had = good crop Of
'em this lime
"Why, Of course Bessie WILL" eaid
M-s stuart, ..and she's very much
Obliged to you for 'sm. Aren's you Bes-
eie?'
"Yes, mother" she said, bot the
words seemed to come from behind saut
teeth.
''wbat are yoa going to do With your
self Oh sunday. Benz asi:sd Nm. Stu-
art. =
81 reckon I'm, just going 70 sssy u
home by myself. said the young mas.
bot an anxious shading stole into his
smile.
"You r,ight NJ we'll drop in and taks
q cup of tea with %. Be ssie nnd will
be alone" gid Mrs. Stuart. her natura.
grin,nens climbing over her blandnesu-
"Thanks, u he said. with slscr,ty; II
don't mind IL do,
When the hall door was closed, the
two women took their way to the lack
yeranda.
al don't want his peas. J." Bessie mid.
II hate them"
"No, you .lon't." said her stepmoth-
er in her clear cut voice. "You want
'eiD, and you're going to take 'em, and
you're going TO behave civil to him
" hen he comes ON Sunday"
.'l'm not" said the girl. but weak
ness strcaked her voice.
..Dun't ne n ninny." said her moth
er you'll have him when you're ask
cd And young Macalister's gone 70
" estern Australia
Sunday was ushered in with the sing
| ing of locu.ts. a cloudless blue ray
dropped down from the heights to the
| horizon, ard a hillside Of grim gums
stood stark, rs IL benumbed by the muI-
titIle of voices filling the air.
Bessie put on n white muslin Qowr
and walked with her mother to church.
| Her hat was Bi oad brimmed and deep
down over her face. the lace touches Of
her gown md headgear seeming to be-
long to her rs the petals do TO n rose.
Ben Stey ems watched her through the
service. his ewes hiding the secret Of
his trgancy that his half turned head
| would have revealed.
He walked down the road with them
afterwarti-that little cold girl separat.
/ ed from him by Airs. Stuart and =
whole wide world Of indifference.
lie sat through a tea meal by her side
ana talked TO her mother about weed
which spoiled the milk, and he had cat
Ell Of soda bread AID currant buns
I And now be WIS watcbiDg tine moon
come up through the trees while a sors
Of uncouth bliss was surgiBg IN his
heart
Wouldn I you rather go to churcby"
asked Bessie
"No." be answered and let bis eyes
begin MS story
II believe ! left the canary on tho
/ dairy wall, she said and stood up
| Never mind" said Ben. rising ~
] tower stovs her.
"Bnt the osIuitoes. she faltered.
"Never MUD. - he said again, end
dropped oi- hcad 20 her level, Hurting
CIT q passionate love word into her ear.
"No-no-no," ..,e said
"You re sbv.' he said. Now, ar.n's
youy Oh. Be~sie. do lave you sor'
A tall lorin emerged from the aous-
way.
"SnyDess soon wears of, " said MSA
Stuart II suppoee. Ben stevena 20
mean stealing my girl. hanging ov0
hee IKE sbisy''
-.