El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-02-17
herself.

| less old gate. Gilmore came riding up.
managing little flourish of a dramatic
entrance even after such a journey. He
hitched his horse at the gate-he missed
the luxury and effect of throwing the
reins to one of Judge Ki1bralth's ne
groes-and came up to me with smile
like an angels for sweetness and light.
care you enjoying the beauties of
nature, cousin p quoth he.
''I am watching the sun go down.
1 said.
He turned and looked long and 81
lently, his soft hat in his hand on his
hip-you would have loved him if
you'd seen him-and then he said.
"I've come up to drink at this fountain
with you for few days"
That night, as 1 was roasting sweet
potato in the ashes and Gilmore was at
titudinizing and watching me, said:
eve spent our first night up here
with one of your neighbors. We got
lost and were taken in by the Nonlys."
Aha, my young man, sol He did not
stir. His expression did not obviously
change; but, more significant. he grew
fixed and still where he stood.
81 was delighted with them all, but
fell in love with the girl, 1 went on.
t'For the Lords sake, Adeline, don't
go to talking about Monty girls here, -
broke in Cousin Nancy sharply from
the other side of the fireplace and Civ
ing one quick glance at Gilmore. ''There
are entirely too many such around here.
I should think you and Gilmore could
find plenty of Strathboro young people
to talk about
Ny chief occupation this week was
going on long, irregular rambles over
the rough, wild country. The loveliest
place l found was a little lonely, laurel
EMPOWERED spot around a moss banked
spring, where summer longest tarried.
After two visits, of course, l felt that
l had created it and that it existed only
for me. How far egotism may mislead
one found when l discovered that it
was a lovers trysting place
1 was coming through the woods with
old Tige, the yellow farm dog, at my
heels, when suddenly through the
bushes 1 saw Gilmore and Patsyl More
than that, he was at that moment kiss
ing her. and doing it very prettily.
must admit
In such case there can be no question
that it is the miserable intruder who is
most to be pitied. Lovers are buoyed
up by the complacency peculiar to their
state.
They saw me when it was just too
late. For some moments my own dis
comfort occupied all my thoughts
When 1 saw any thing. it was that Ell
more was much disconnected, and that
Patsy, despite her conflicting emotions
was not. Patsy plainly felt that her
blush at last was justified. She had nc;
expressed unmaidenly emotion about
an Indifferent stranger, but quite maid
emily emotion about her own lover ana
amid sentiments now she was shyly
pleased to have things set right before
me. No conventional views about clan
destine love affairs imposed upon Patsy
in fact, L don't suppose she had ever
heard of any All betrothals are. l be
lieve, more or less clandestine amorg
her class until actual preparations fcl'
the wedding begin, and the most al
vanced individualism regarding mat
rimonial contracts prevails in this
otherwise unevolved society.
Il am very unfortunate. l STAN
mered 81 beg your pardon a thousand
times; but, as l have discovered the
secret. 1 trust you IL accept my con
gratulations, Elmore.'' and l found
myself with one arm around Patsy and
my hand in his.
Gilmore was very white, but he had
an instinct for ceremonial that came to
his aid.
1 expressed myself quite sincerely in
what l said. My Interpretation OF the
situation was based principally on the |
absence of any shade of real mortitica
ton in little Patsy's pretty confusion |
and alarm; the alarm was shown il !
anxious glances at Elmore and had |
reference to himself alone She turned |
her face, glowing and dewy, up to me |
and then buried it on my shoulder in |
the prettiest way.
Gilmore looked obviously and with
some bewilderment at me and then
with CLEAN of something like spon
taneous tenderness at her. These occa
sional notes of sincerity in the midst of
his unconscious artifciality always
aggravated my feeling
against him, they so interfered with
ready comprehensive summing up of
him. A man of straw it is easy enough
to consider, but man of straw with
organs, passions, affections-this is
what tests the knowledge of human ma
ture
Naturally L took myself and the dis
Greet Tige away as soon as l could
That evening, as the stars were coming
out, l went and stood beside Gilmore at
the lonely old gate under the holly tree
A whippoorwill was calling in the
woods close by.
Though 1 can't see any good reason
Tor it" l began, II feel dreadfully
guilty about disturbing you today"
He turned with an uneasy look around
md a softly whispered ''Sh-h-h-hr'