The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-11-18

wide-frilled kerchief, crossed over her
breast, and secured by tiny brooch
of pearls, a cap of fllmy muslin crown
ed her powdered hair, and her round
ed white arms were bare to the elbow.
She was n handsome girl, with her big
dark eyes and long eyelashes, and the
deep rose-hue of health and youth
flushing her cheeks. She was all red
and white. like York and Lancaster
rose. Sir David thought. AS he cross
ed the gravelled path his heavy foot
steps became audible. and Betty looked
up with a certain eager anticipation.
which passed away when she became
aware of her visitors identity.
"These young military men walk so
much alike" she thought; and there
was q heightened glow upon her
cheeks which Sir David altogether
misinterpreted.
Il am fortunate, madam, in finding
you alone" he said. after the usual
formal salutations had passed.
"The colonel will be with us very
soon, hope" she said, and stopped to
gather a gorgeous peony.
1.-Two is company, three is none" he
ventured.
Betty was perverse 80 my uncle
and I find" she said.
Sir David's eyes looked angry, but
still he smiled.
Your wit is as keen as ever, Miss
Drury. 1t has often wounded my
| heart"
"Then tits keener than I could have
| believed Sir David"
Meaning that my heart is hard,
Mistress All, well. perhaps tits true
of it when l so into the world, for 1t
is q hard world, and would crush Il
heart unready to bear it's crueltles-
but tits tender enough when 1 meet
you, dear Miss Drury"
"Ah!" said Betty indifferently, and
moved off, as if desircus of plucking
flowers that grew farther away. He
followed her, growing hot with indig-
nation at her disdain, but displaying
a self-control which his comrades
would not have given him credit for
possessing.
"Why should you take pleasure In
wounding me, sweet Mistress Betty
| when you OF all the world can create
| Paradise for me with a smile? What
| is life If ore heart takes no pity upon
another? Take you pity upon mine
| dear LADY,"
He seized her hand and showered
kisses upon it. She managed to re-
| lease it, and although she said moth.
ing, the sparkle in her eyes betrayed
her rising anger at his persistence.
| 1t became evident to Sir David that
his wooing was not prospering, and
! in vague sweet words he was but
wasting his time, so he came to tbs
point at once.
"I think of no one but you, Miss
Drury. Will you not take pity on ms
misery and my loneliness? Will you
be my wife?
She was standing with her back tC
him, and she turned slightly and look.
ed over her shoulder.
"What think yoU Of my estates, Sin
David?" she said coolly as though sht
had not heard his last speech.
"Why speak Of them now?" he ask
ed, perfectly comprehending the in
nuendo but deeming it wise to feigr
| ignorance. "My thoughts are of you
Let us forget that there is aught il
the world but lCVe, or other peopl,
save lovera who wander in a summa,
garden, hand clasred in hand. breath
ing joy with the fragrant air! Hav,
ii"INN uppI me- NlGStl 'ilSE Dluty
me II you will be my wfe!"
moi"
She said 1t very quietly, very un
corcernedly, as though it We're a mat
ter in which she had little interest on
way or the other, but the tone carried
conviction to the listener. Nothing
could have been more effective, NOR
crushing, than that single monosylla
BILE, coming as it did at the end o
the suitor's fowery rhapsody. II stuni
Sir David to fury, and he sprang from
the kneeling posture he had so grace
fully assumed but moment before
and grasped the girls arm with a.
almost brutal force, crying:
Il say that you shall marry me-"
"Shall-to me, sir!' she said angrily
her eyes flaming, her red lips set in
curve of contempt.
Sir David saw that he had gone to
far.
Forgive me-" he pleaded, releasin
her arm. II am mad with love of you
I cannot live without youv'
Not in such a fine mode as yo
might wish, sir" she returned wit
an affectation of the most stately Ger
emony but I have no doubt but tina
you will contrive to live in passabl
comfort nevertheless: and I wish t