The Delta independent., 1900-08-03
1 NA3K EISTAKE
u IL Unsafs to Make Love WITH
o. S~.i 80 e sos OF
Affection.
IL. :, ...I......aL....II.... ..l....

down h..... III jusi have tU I'LL t.e..I
In the morning. ard no use making mo
vorl, FOR nothing" and the Old sexton
turned down TIE one lamp burning In
tie chandelier in the room ansl went
out. lcavin: the door aJar. The light
fickcrcd for n few moments until an
outer door was opened and then. With
one bright fash. il dlcl out.
Up stairs there was much laughing
and talking rs the busy hands puI the
finishing touches TO the church dccora-
lions for the morrow.
There. link that Is as well as we
.au do" md Nellie Collier stepped
bac,; to survey the work. We need a
small piece of rope to reach across that
seat yet. doctcr." she said. turning to
Dr. Ora ahani. who was standing t,tstde
her. Two OF those letters IN that crn-
Ter motto are crooked. You stra!ghten
them. please. while ! get the rope.
know where there Is II piece that will
lust do" and she hurried down the
stairs and ran against Nj. Pitcairn us
he was entering his study.
"Whew. Dark as can be-" s!.e snis
half aloud as she entered the small an
teroom and felt Ler way over the closet
under the stairs.
Mr. Pitcairn went Into Ills study. his
thoughts In tumult. For months Mel
lie Golfers laughing face had been
haunting him. and he often found that
his eyes rested on her when he was
preaching.
He waited n few minutes and then
met the little white robed figure as she
was about leaving the room.
Nellie. I want TO tell you some
thing" he said. taking hold Of the
hands which, were full Of rope.
II have been wanting to tell you ~
q long time that love you. ! don't
think that you can be surprised. for
you must have seen that ! love you
dearly. and hope that It has not been
distastcfui to you. has III"
There vas no answer. but there was
no attempt to withdraw the hands that
hc held.
Il am not an adept at lovemaking.
darling. Will you bc my wife. Ncllie!"
II never thought that you cared for
me-" she murmured. You never no
tIced me much. and ! thought you
cared for Others" came In low voice.
II must have hid my feelings more
than ! thought. but II was because
loved you 80 that you ahought that
neglected you. a minister IL watched
no much and has to be so very careful.
hut can you love me. darling. enough
TO he my wifc:
lie could scarcely. hear the answer,
but he suddenly clasped her In his
arms. No matter what happened for
n few minutes. II was the first time
that he had been In love. and the room
was dark. lie remembered aftcrward
that he even then felt surprised to find
that she was SO small.
II must be going. darling" he said
nj last ms he heard some one entering
the next room. -Therc Is n commit
tee meeting In my study. ! will come
up stairs rs soon as ] can." ani. CIV
Ing her n last kiss, he hurried from
the room.
He was In no huinor for business
meeting. and the good brethren must
have thought that their young minis
ter was growing frivolous. he seemed
so light bcarted and laughed several
times when they were discussing Inn
portant business. The truth was he
scarcely knew what was said or done,
and rs soon rs the last one had depart
cd he hurried up stairs. Nearly every
one had gone. but Nellie. his Nellie" :"
was busy arranging some last flowers
In . vase. and Dr. Graham wns stand-
Ing beside her and Whispering some
thing TO her while she just shook her
head and laughed.
Nellie merely glanced up as he sp-
preached.
"whnt do you think OF the decorn-
tions p she asked.
They are fine. very nnc." he answer
ed, trying TO meet her glance. but she
had turned back 10 Dr. Graham, and
for . moment he was angry.
"Pshaw! How unreasonable ! am
he said to himself. How much more
thoughtful she Is % a. not to attract
| attention"
30 he walked away until he saw bes
preparing TO leave.
Are you ready to 20 nowY' he asked
IN Q low tone. DO you want 10 take
this BASKET aioser
~why. yes-bas." she besitateA %
inssast. "Dr. Grahsm win heIp -
with ny tbiags."
Ne sU0oeoly dropped The basket
why. Nellie. u h my place, Dos shas
ee0Ow'A~ he e1claimed.
Meme Csllses's face ausbed- = -
- - NV yos can ciaio that Ssghs
osy Dore thap ysu have 10 speob -
d. Ornhao 10 that nasecf." So ~
hsughswy.
WY, Seslie, shisk sAss ~ses -