Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1900-08-16
BY =. Nr. CROKER
.Military.Romance.of.8 .8out2. Tfpica

HisGSpII SOSnQly lCf LIS cONdfLitt, d1A
pass valiant new resolutions ito DO bet
ter next tiTner' But Miss Esme was
so unaffected, so ready to accept him as
friend, and she looked him in the face
so frankly and yet SO innocentiy with her
dark blue eyes, that his tongue remained
tied. This particular afternoon fate had
favored him. He was returning from
hunting when. ii turning the corner of
road, he suddenly came upon a girl III
mourning. Now was his time. Now Or
never! he said to himself iInperatively,
aad trCttiGg hastily forward before his
courage had time to cool he jumped
off his horse and accosted her warmly.
She looked as she always dill, pleased
to see him, and questioned him eagerly
about the run. about the people who
were out; but he quickly cut short all
her queries by an abrupt question OF his
own.
Never mind the hunt now. l want to
ask you something" he said, becoming
exceedingly red and miserable looking,
"and I'm shot if | know how to put it.
Do you know why l have been so much
over at your place lately?" beating his
boot with his hunting-crop as he spoke.
''Oh, yes" she replied, unhesitatingly.
''Of course l do her mind at once re-
curing to his friendship for Teddy, and
his sympathy in their trouble. "Of course
l know, and it has been very kind of
you"
h1r. Hepburn stared at her in silence
for nearly a minute, and then said. Il
don't believe you understand what L
mean; though l think you might have
noticed it. I've been going to see you
all along, and 20 one else. The more L
see of you the more l like YOU. And
and-my father and mother and want
to know-if you will marry ne. I'm not
a bad fellow, and I'm awfully fond Of
you"
1t was now Esme's turn to stare at him
in blank amazement. Don't talk to me
in this way" she said impatiently. You
are making fun; you are not in earnest"
II should think 1 was in earnest. And
1 hope you like me, even little, Esme,"
venturing her name rather shyly.
Il do, always did, as Teddy's friend,
but now-now-you have spoiled it all
Cant you like me as something more
than friend of Teddy's?' appealing to
her with a wistful face and endeavoring
to possess himself of her hand.
"No, / can be nothing more than a
friend to you always" she replied, ignor-
ing his hand, and stepping back two
PAGES, perilously near the edge of a ditch.
And why? why? Tell me the rea-
SON."
"You know the reason" she returned,
now averting her face, which had borrow
ed it's complexion from his scarlet coat.
''You have heard" she proceeded, in
still lower voice, 'of my cousin AIiles!''
eyes, but l don't mind bit" very
eagerly, and quite misunderstanding her
meaning. He treated you vilely. He
was a confounded-"
stop, stop, before you say anything
more" cried Esme, and listen to what l
have to tell you" And thereupon. with
rapid, almost incoherent, utterances, and
faltering breathless sentences, she told
the whole story of Teddy's secret and
of Miles mistake-a tale which the young
man beside her heard with sinking heart
and remarkable and various changes OF
countenance. When she brought her story
to a close he put this one abrupt and
crucial question:
And you like him still?'
Eyes" in a very low voice.
"And would marry him after all?"
Eyes" in a whisper.
''Then there is no more to be said, Civ
ing his innocent horse an angry chuck
of the bride. ''Of course, if had known
wouldn't have made such an awful fool
of myself" turning away with iil-assumed
dignity.
you are angry with me,'' said Esme,
tearfully, ''and l don't know what | am
to say to you detaining him by ges-
ture. If / had known or dreamed Of
this, of course l would have told you; but
never dreamed of it, and now l sup
pose," with trembling lips, ''you will hate
me, and never be friends with me again."
Mr.. Hepburn was very much cut up;
but at the same time he had a soft heart
and to see a very pretty girl with large
tears in her eyes, deplOring the loss Of
his friendship, considerably cooled his in
dignation, and he hastened to assure her
that when he had got over it bit he
would still be her friend. OF course it
was a facer. But he was not such dog
in the manger as to grudge the other
fellow what he could not have himself
"I>don't understand it, you know, not
bit; for Mrs. BrabaZon told the mater
that you never had cared straw for him,
nor he for you. 1t was all mere queS
ton of money, and you know, Esme,
can give you heaps of that. The gov
ernor said he'd let US start with five
thousand year. he is very much taken
with you himself"
Il don't care for money" said the
young lady, hastily. Mrs. Brahazon was
quite wrong. ] was not going to marry
Miles for money, nor he me, and l would
be proud to marry him without shil-
ling"
"And live on love-" suggested Mr.. Hep
burn, whose heart was still very sore in
deed, and could not refrain from this one
gibe.
Esme colored painfully, and was about
to make some angry retort when he add
ed:
Forgive nIe. l cannot help it. | envy
that Miles of yours. He is a lucky fell
low. It's not every pretty girl in these
days that says she doesn't care for thou
sands year, and will take a chap with
out a penny. Well" with one foot now
in the stirrup, holding out his hand,
"good-by," wringing her fingers in wise
like grasp. what can't be cured must
be endured" taking off his hat to her as
he u+tered this trilism: and in another