The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-11-03
"It isn't too late," he insisted.

parting OF tno ways.
"Oh, please dom be tragic, Reggie!'
"We can go together, or we can-we
can do the other thing"
81 don't think l can, she said.
"Why not?' he whispered.
"I-I'm just little afraid"
"But / shall be there, dear. A rather
rough road-perhaps-at first, but to-
gether, you know"
"All my people,
Reginald astonished her by the blunt
ness of his retort.
"You oughtn't to speak like that of
them," she said reproachfully.
"No, l oughtn't, he admitted.
"But what say doesn't matter. The
word is with you"
"How often have l said it'll" she
cried.
finality about it" he said ruefully,
and as he spoke hanson drove up to
the door.
"That is Lord Roper" she exolaim-
ed, darting to the window.
"Am I to go?" he asked.
"Oh, please
"Good by, Joan, he said and took
his hat again.
"You will meet him on the stairs, "
she cried as Reginald stepped toward
the door.
81 will stay if you like. +" he offered,
coming to standstill.
81 don t think"-
"Oh, very well!" he said, earning
away.
perhaps you had BETTER" she ex
claimed, coming toward him. And,
ReggieP'
"Yes," he said, meeting her half
way.
eff you care for the primroses
81 do, )" he returned.
"Shall p
She drew quite close, and standing
on tipped toes (she was small persou)
deftly placed the bunch in the butt l.
hole of Reginald S frock coat. Suddei ~
Joan sprang away and the door opened.
Lord Roper entered with the air of a
successful wooer, but seeing Reginald
he appeared ludicrously astonished. He
stroked his dyed mustaohe with one
hand while he held his hat in the other
Joan's face grew red as a peony, and
Reginald looked down at the bunch of
primroses in his buttonhole. His atti-
tude seemed to arrest Lord Roper's at
tention. Then he darted sharp glance
about the room.
"Those are the first primroses have
seen this year," he said.
"Harbingers of spring." remarked
Joan, with a smile.
"You attach a great significance to
them, then, Miss Joan?" continued
Roper coolly.
"Oh, yes; am not like Peter Bell, ~
she answered.
81 am afraid can't stay to see your
people after all, )" said Lord Roper. 81
am like the Irishman." he continued,
with smile; ~ am here only to say
couldn't come.'
81 am sorry, Lord Roper"
"Oh, we'll, it is the fortune of war, >
he said, land the spoils go to the vic
tor"
"But battle may be drawn, sht
cried. with rather apprehensive glance
at Reginald, "and," she added, "ther'
may not be any serious casualties.
With that she offered her hand, an(
he pressed it slightly. Then he nodded
to Reginald and went away.
"He bears it welI," said Reginald a
the door closed.
"Bears what:" Joan asked, with
sigh.
"Why, his defeat" answered Reg
gle; "though l don't see how b.
knew
81 suppose it was the primroses, sh
said demurely.
"Did he"-
"He brought them from Roper Parl
this morning." she said,- and Joal
sighed again.
"Roper is not bad sort of fellow.
he remarked.
"Oh, Irespect him immensely crie'
Joan.
| "And you respect his dictum," Regi
nald suggested.
"What do you mean?" she aske
quickly.
"The spoils to the victor. you know,
said Reggie, and he took her hands.
"Are they worth having?' she whis
pered.
"Darling'-
"And yeti
"Yes?" he said, as she stopped.
"I-I hesitated, Reggie. dear. p" sh
murmured, dropping her eyelids.
"Still, you were not lost" he mu,
INJURED, drawing her closer.
sit was a rather near thing" sh
said. eff you had not GOMEZ
"Well?''
81 might have been tempted
"Never mind the might have beer
Joan," he urged.
, "And yet p
"Yes?''
"Oh, you knowr' she said. hidin
her face against his coat
"You loved me all the time, dear p"
, "Of course
"That is all l want!'' he cried
Thomas Cobb in Black and White
} What He Really Meant.
81 can hardly believe the statemer
of that fellow who said one trolley Ca
could not hold all the women he hs
married" F"
81 do. There might be room fc