The Republican journal., 1901-08-22

"Well?'
'Oh. don'tr' she exclaimed. starting
away. her eyes still fixed upon a ribbon
with which she was working.
why. katherine-er-Miss Moore
''Oh. you mustn't"
He walked to the edge Of the circle
protected by the leaves and looked out
over the clay wall of the fort. down
which tiny rivers ran. She, having
dried her hat. placed it again on her
head and began brushing her skirt
where. here and there. rain had spotted
1t. She glanced several times at his
back. stubbornly turned toward her.
He evinced no intention of moving nor
Of speaking again. and she became
nervous. The situation was unbeara-
BILE, and she exclaimed:
1--WE must get back to the othersv'
1--WE can't very we'll go through this
rain" he said. without turning round
Another prolonged silence. broken
only by the monotonous fall of the
rain. Finally. when she had almost
made up her mind to gather up her
skirts and run to the hotel, a quarter
of a mile away. he turned and came
quickly toward her.
He put out his hand as though to
take hers. but she quickly put her
hands behind her and stepped back.
He folded Ills arms and stood before
her. looking earnestly into the eyes
that she raised to his almost appeal
ingly.
Katherine" be said. II love you.
Will you be my wife?''
A beautiful color stole slowly from
the ribbon at her throat up up. until
it tinted the edges of her small, per-
fectly formed ears. His gaze held hers
for moment, then her eyelids fell and
their long lashes swept her cheeks.
MIR. Pearce," she said slowly and
hesitatingly. Il am SO sorry, but IL
can't
Because you do not love me?"
She looked up quickly into his face;
then down again, but she did not reply.
katherine. tell me-" he said. why
Is 1t that you cannot marry me?'
"Because"-she was very busy dis
lodging half buried stone with the toe
of her shoe-"because you are a Yam,
keel"
Another swift glance met his steady
look. Then she moved a little farther
away and stood half turned from him.
His first impulse was to laugh. But
that passed almost as it came. The
gray. brass buttoned riding habit, the
flushed cheeks and bright eyes with
which she had listened to "Dixie,"
flashed across his mental vision. The
Yankee" might be an obstacle not to
be laughed away.
But | am not Yankee" he said
with emphasis. Il am from Illinois,"
1t seemed long time to both that
they stood in silence. Again she was
the first to speak.
This Is an awful rain" she said.
"Yes. very wet rain" he replied.
"Oh. you are going to jest about it,
But ! am not jesting." be answered.
walking rapidly to where she stood.
what mean is that you will gel wet
The water Is beginning to drip from
the leaves. Here" stripping of bis
coat, ''let me put this around YOU"
"Oh. no." she said, stepping back
"But you must The air is chill, and
II you get wet you will catch cold"
But you you
ut won't burt me bit. Come"
He assumed commanding tone. and
that or something else accomplished his
end. for she made no effort to free her
self when he placed the coat about her
Z q IL
fixed just right, and his arm was still
around her when he looked into her
face and saw that she was looking up
into his. Something In her eyes prompt
ed him to draw her close to him and to
say very tenderly:
"Sweetheart. l come from the north.
but love southern girl. Don't you
think that she can love northern man
just little II he 10 not lankeeY'
She studied the arrangement OF his
necksie closely. and then transferred
her scrutiny to bis watch chain. But
evidently she was not thinking OF
either. for when she spoke she asked:
ILLINOIS people aren't iankeesY
Certainly notr' he replied. With con-
viction. They are long way from
YankeedOm more than l.OUO miles"
She examined the necktie again, look
| ed into bis eyes for moment, then
over bis shoulder. of into the rain.
Katherine he said softly. do you
love meY
She turned her head slowly until
their eyes met A wave OF color rushed
into her cheeks. and she murmured
family. Yes"
"And you will be my wifeY'
| With perhaps a sudden thought OF
her surroundings and OF stormy day
40 years before. she replied. IL sur
render
The rain. as II to hide the scene from
any possible observer. fell more heavily
for a moment. Then 1t ceased alto
gether, and 5000 the sun sbone through
from a blue sky where the gray clouds
had parted.
HE Early Home Coming.
"Does your husband carry a latch