The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-03-28

Sdiu SItf lHdabnuukig.
Smith came a little nearer.
Don't you care a bit. Mary?" said
he.
II won't care" said Mary, clinching
her hands stoutly Mr.. Storey as good
as proposed last night, and l as good
as accepted him. m not going TO play
fast and loose with any man."
Except with me- said Smith.
Don't say that. l haven't" said
Mary.
You've let me think that YOU liked
me better than any other man." pro-
tested the trooper.
Mary caught her breath. IL she had
she had not deceived him, she thought
hut she was not going 10 say SO. Mary
learned her lesson OF life in a hard
school and there was more than the
trap and the silk dress bound up in
Giles Storey; there was her mother s
happiness and comfort, as we'll as her
own.
"I'll always think of you and pray for
you you like YOU We're my brother"
said Mary, with a little CULVER in her
voice.
Brother be hanged" said Smith.
And IL you are going 10 swear. Mr..
Smith, l think I'll go in"
Now, the miller was nearer than she
had been aware OF. AS she walked tow
ard the cottage she saw him waiting
for her at the door. He was disguised
at the sight OF his chosen wife I'm con-
versation with a soldier and he ex-
pressed his resentment with some
warmth.
Hes most respectable man, Mr..
Storey" said Mary. and l won't hear
a word against one OF the brave men
that'll be upholdng the honor of our
country IN month or two"
It's most odd" grumbled Storey.
'how even the best OF you womenfolk
get taken with a soldiers coat! II he
was in my clothes and me in his
should be run after Just like hlm!'
A week later the Carbineers got or
ders TO prepare for going out TO the
war. and Mary felt glad that she had
decided so wisely.
ITS bad enough 10 think of his hav-
ing to be shot at now" she said 10 her
self. crying, that night in her own
room. But II I'd promise 10 marry
him IL would have been deal worse!"
Although he knew that he had lost
his chance, Smith continued TO hover
about the neghborhood OF the cottage.
and 10 meet Mary from time to time in
the street. She was always kind, but
a little distant.
But when the last day OF all came
form that bore such portentous
meaning lingering outside the railing in
the dusk of the evening her heart gave
a great leap, and she hurried out TO the
little wooden gate to speak TO Smith
for the last time.
Its good-by this time" said he. as
he held out his hand. And somehow
Mary thought that, handsome as he had
always been N his old uniform, with
o ~ 10 nt ta l.
ly on his head, in the sober brown suit
ne looked handsomer still. II suppose
now you wouldn't go out of your way
To walk down the street as far as the
parade with me?
Mary hestated. 1t was, il must be,
the last time; her mother would scold:
Storey II he came To hear OF it would
be very disagreeable, but she'd risk 1t.
IN come--just for a minute" said
she distantly.
In a few seconds they were walking
down the street, silently. side by side.
Its just as well you chose as you did.
! suppose. for your own comforts sake.
Mary" said Smith, presently, using
her Christian name with the frankest
simplicity, though he had been strict
ly held 10 Miss Gibson"up TO now.
"But / want TO ask YOU this: Will you
put off marrying that chap till the
W y
for, eb2'
I'll can't do that" said Mary.
"You see, feel that confident" pur-
sued Smith. robpstly. that I'll get a
chance out there. And If | was 20 be in
lucks way. you know, and get "A COM
mission. why. I could come back and
make you lady"
Mary shook her hear sagely.
You couldn't do that" said she
q. paa N ykrh hRn IN
given my word"
Well" persisted Smith, bending
down his handsome head TO look into
her face with those blue eyes that con-
trasted 80 unhappily with Giles Sto-
rey's. "will YOU just wait? No promise
81 anything else. mind, but just %
waltz"
"N-n-no." answered Mary. reluctant
Is, steeling herself. Il couldn't prom
ise that. OF course. he'd wonder why,
you know"
well. look here. then, Mary" said
Smith, stopping short at last in front
OF her 'if you won't do that, will you
just give me n kiss?'
She was hotly indignant OF course.
She declared that u was quite true. as
her mother had said. that there was
nothing like the impudence of soldiers.
She meant II, too. most honestly, fer
yently.
All the same. though. when they had
walked the length of the parade and
walked back again. and when he had
taken her hand IN both his own in the
corner by the Coasiguard station. why.
he got the kiss.
And Mary went home with tears In
her eyes. feeling guilty not for having
given Smith kiss which ought to have
been Storey's. but FOR having refused
fl To him for 80 long, when he was go
ing away. and might never never come
back
New, although Mary had not gwen
her word 10 delay her marriage. she
did contrive 20 do so and although
fhere vas no prospect Of the war end
ing. and she could get no exact details
about her sifticular Smith. she be-
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