Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-01-11

his face was as she looked up into It.
She raised her hand gently and put it
on his forehead.
"You are so silent, SO cold, my Emf
he cried. "Have you nothing to say
to me?"
A little shade Of wonder filed her
eyes.
81 will do everything you tell me-"
she said.
What else could she say? Her idea
Of love was only service.
'Then, my own precious one, prom
Use never to kiss that fellow again. I
cannot bear that you should love any
one but me. You must not. I will not
have It! II every relative had in the
world were to die tomorrow, would
be quite happy If still only had you.
My darling, my love, why are you so
cold? Promise me not to love him
any more. If you asked me to do any
thing for you, would do it, though 1t
cost my lifew
EN- put her hand very gravely round
his neck.
II will never kiss him." she said,
sand will try not to love any one else.
But do not know ii will be able"
ooh, my darling, think Of you all
night, all day. think of nothing else,
love. nothing else" he said, folding his
arms about her.
En- was q little conscience stricken.
Even that morning she had found time
to remember that in six months her
cousin would come back from school,
and she had thought to remind Waldo
of the lozenges for his cough, even
when she saw Gregory coming.
II do not know how it u.s." she said
humbly, nesting to him, "but cannot
love you SO much as you love me. Per-
haps it Is because am only woman,
but l do love you as much as can
Now the Kaffir maids were coming
from the huts. He kissed her again,
eyes and mouth and hands, and left
her.
Tant' Sannie was well satisfied when
told Of the betrothment. She herself
contemplated marriage within the year
with one or other Of her numerous
"vrijers," and she suggested that the
weddings might take place together.
EN- set to work busily to prepare her
own household linen and wedding gar
ments. Gregory was with her daily,
almost hourly, and the six months
which elapsed before Lyndall's return
passed, as he felicitously phrased it,
like summer night. when you are
dreaming of some one you love-"
Late one evening Gregory sat by his
little love, turning the handle Of her
machine as she drew her work through
1T, and they talked ofsthe changes they
would make when the Boer woman
was gone and the farm belonged to
them alone. There should be a new
room here and kraal there. So they
chatted on. Suddenly Gregory dropped
the handle and impressed feryent
kiss on the fat hand that guided the
linen.
You are so beautiful, En-" said the
lover. 1T comes over me in flood
suddenly how love you"
Gllj SullIeu.
'Tant' Sannie says when l ain her
age no one will look at me, and 1t is
true. Ny hands are as short aud broad
as a ducks foot. and my forehead is 50
low. and l haven't any nose. can't be
pretty"
She laughed softly. 1t was so nice to
think he should be so blind.
when my cousin comes tomorrow,
you will see a beautiful woman. Greg
Dry" she added presently. 'She is like
little queen; her shoulders are so up
right, and her head looks as though it
ought to have little crown upon it.
You must come to see her tomorrow as
soon as she comes. am sure you will
love her."
"Of course l shall come to see her,
since she is your cousin. but do you
think could ever think any woman as
lovely as think your"
He fixed his seething eyes upon her.
"You could not help seeing that she
is prettier," said EN-. slipping her right
hand into his. but you will never be
able to like any one so much as you
like me-"
Afterward. when she wished her low
er good night, she stood upon the door
step to call a greeting after him, and
she waited. as she always did. till the
brown pony's hoofs became inaudible
behind the "kopje."
Then she passed through the room
where Tant' Sannie lay snoring. and
through the little room that was drap-
ed in white, waiting for her COUSINS
return, on to her own room.
She went to the chest Of drawers to
put away the work she had finished
and sat down on the floor before the
lowest drawer. In 1t were the things
she was preparing for her marriage.
Piles Of white linen and some aprons
and quilts. and in the little box in the
corner a spray Of orange blossom
which she had brought from smouse.
There, too. was ring Gregory had
given her and veil his sister had
sent, and there was little roll Of fine
embroidered work which Trana had
given her. 1t was too fine and good
even for Gregory's wife-just right for
Something verv small md coft Che