Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1900-06-14
,ut he ventured another remark

but he ventured another remark.
DO you think now, Miss Lyndall.
that he'll ever have anything In the
wOrld-that German, mean-money
enough to support wife on. and all
that sort of thing? | don't He's what
/ call a soft
She was spreading her skirt out soft
ly with her left hand for the dog 10 lie
down on It,
Il think | should be rather astonish-
ed II he ever became a respectable
member OF society,"" she said. Il don't
expect 10 see him the possessor OF bank
shares, the chairman OF a divisional
council and the father Of a large fami-
~, wearing Il black hat and going to
church twice on a Sunday. He would
rather astonish me If he came to such
an end
Yes; | don't expect anything of him
either" said Gregory zealously.
We'll, l don't know" said Lyndall.
There are some small things | rather
look 10 him for. If he were to invent
wings or carve a statue that one might
look at for half an hour without want
ing to look at something else, should
not be surprised. He may do some lit
tie thing Of that kind perhaps when he
has done fermenting and the sediment
has all gone to the bottom"
Gregory felt that what she said was
not wholly intended as blame.
We'll, | don't know" he said sulkl-
ly. ITO me he looks like a fool-to
walk about always in that dead and
alive sort OF way, muttering to himself
like an old Kaffir witch doctor! He
works hard enough. but it's always as
though he didn't know what he was
doing. You don't know how he looks
to person who sees him for the first
time"
Lyndall was softly touching the little
sore foot as she read, and Doss. to
show he liked 1t, licked her hand.
But, Miss Lyndall," persisted Greg
ory, what do you really think OF
him?"
II think" said Lyndall, that he is
like thorn tree, which grows up very
quietly, without any ones caring for it.
and one day suddenly breaks out into
yellow blossoms"
"And what do you think l am like?"
asked Gregory hopefully.
Lyndall looked up from her book.
Like little tin duck floating on
dish of water, that comes after a piece
Of bread stuck on needle. and the
more the needle pricks 1t the more 1t
comes on"
"Oh, you are making fun Of me now,
you really are" said Gregory, feeling
wretched. You are making fun. aren't
you, nowW
Partly. 1t is always diverting to
make comparisons"
Yes; but you don't compare me TO
anything nice, and you do other people.
What is EN- like, now%
THE accompaniment of a song. She
fills up the gaps in other peoples lives
and is always number two. But think
she is like many accompaniment
great deal better than the song she Is
to accompany"
"She is not half 80 good as you are"
said Gregory, with a burst Of uncon-
trollable ardor.
"She IS so much better than / that
her little finger has more goodness in
It than my whole body. / hope you
may not live to find out the truth Of
that fact"
You are like an angel" he said. the
blood rushing to his head and face.
"Yes, probably. Angels are Of many
orders"
you are the one being that lover
suIu urcgUry, qufvrrfuy. thvusttt
loved before, but know now! Do not
be angry with me. l know you could
never like me. But If 1 might but al
ways be near you 30 serve you would
be utterly, utterly happy. l would ask
nothing in return. If you could only
take everything l have and use 1t!
want nothing but to be Of use to you"
She looked at him for a few mo
ments.
"How do you know" she said slowly,
sthat you could not do something to
serve me? You could serve me by CIV
ing me your name"
He started and turned his burning
face to her.
You are very cruel. You are ridicul-
ing me, he Sulu
"No, l am not, Gregory. What am
saying is plain, matter Of fact busi-
ness. If you are willing to give me
your name within three weeks time, ]
am willing to marry you; IL not well.
/ want nothing more than your name.
That is a clear proposal, is 1t notr
He looked up. Was 1t contempt,
lpotbfpov Y,Itv that ,nnrad In tho avaS
above? He could not tell, but he stoop-
ed over the little foot and kissed It
She smiled.
''Do you really mean itf" he whis-
pered.
yes. You wish to serve me and to |
have nothing In return. You shall have |
what you wish" She held out her fin
gers for Doss to lick. "Do you see this |
dog? He licks my hand because love
not love l do not allow It. | believe
you love me. l, too, could love SO that |
to lie under the foot Of the thing low |
ed would be more heaven than to lie |
in the breast of another. Come. Let
us go. Garry the dog" she added. |
"He will not bite you II l put him In
your arms. So-do not let his foot |
hang down"
They descended the "kopje." At the
bottom he whispered:
would you not take my armf The
path is very rough"
She rested her fingers lightly on 1t.
Il may yet change my mind about
you before the time comes.
1t is very likely. Mark your she said,
turning round on him. 81 remember
your words-you will give everything
and expect nothing. The knowledge
that you are serving me is to be your
reward, and you wifi have that. You
will serve me, and greatly. The rea-
sons l have for marrying you I need
not inform you of now. You will prob
ably discover some of them before
long"
Il only want 10 be Of some use to
you," he said
1t seemed to Gregory that there were
pulses In the soles Of his feet, and the
ground shimmered as on a summers
day. They walked round the foot Of
the 'kopJe" and past the Kafir huts.
An old Kaffir maid knelt at the door of
One grinding mealies. That she should
see him walking so made his heart beat
so fast that the hand on his arm felt It's
Dulsation. It seemed that she must
envy him.
Just then En- looked out again at the
back window and saw them coming.
10 III /