Connecticut western news. [volume] (Salisbury, Litchfield Co., Conn.) 1871-1970, 1901-04-25

Don't say that, Mary! You know l
love you, and
Now, Tom Dalton, stop right where
you are. I've told you often enough
that l like you. You have been my
friend and playmate ever since was
a little girl, and l shall always like
you as friend. No. sir; won't listen
to any lovemaking. l won't marry
you, sir, and that's the end ont.
will marry no one but a brave man.
and don't love anybody, and
But, Mary, surely u
There you go again, sir. II you ever
mention love to me again, / will never
speak to you, as sure as my name is
Mary Hart"
"oh, IL YOU put 1t that way I'll really
have to retire. for couldn't survive
the punishment. How do you know
I'm not the brave manT
and I've known you all these years,
and-but l won't have 1t brought up
again, and there's an end ont, sir"
We'll. well. III woman will, she
will, and IL she won't she won't, and
there's the end ont" quoted Tom gay
ly. Every dog has his day, Mary.
What do you say TO sail down the
bay? Let's have that mother of yours
and take run down to Elm island for
dinner at Cobb's farm and a bath at
the short beach. It's n fine morning
for a sail, and Ill be bound I'll learn
to swim this time"
Tom Dalton, IL there ever WAS
well, l know there wasn't. And really
began to think you were serious, sir.
But mother never would venture out
In that crazy knockabout of yours.
Wouldn't II be jolly? I'd love to CO."
ut Is all right about the knockabout.
She is high and dry for n new coat of
copper paint. Captain Doyle has his
new schooner Willie and told me this
morning he should run down to Elm
come flood tide. What do you say.
Mary? And-you know was In ear
nest and
Say, I'm of to mamma mt once"
And before he could declare what he
was In earnest about she was running
swiftly up the pier, shouting back to
him, "You naughty boy, I'll bet you
box of chocolates / am first Mt the
house, sir"
Mary Hart was the only daughter of
the widow of Colonel Hart of the In
dian service.
The colonel had been both soldier and
business man, and when he had been
killed In a jungle fight. soon after
Mary's birth, he had left his widow
comfortable income.
She had come TO America and settled
In one OF the quiet New England sea-
shore villages In n cozy cottage adjoin-
Ing the estate OF Mrs. Dalton. who was
an old school friend. The young PEG.
pie had grown up together and had
been friends since childhood.
Tom Dalton. a happy go lucky young
man. had Inherited an Independent In.
come from his father and now, having
passed his finals at the law school, was
about to practice his profession In Bos-
ton. He loved Mary Hart with all his
heart, but in spite of himself he could
not be serious about his lovemaking,
though bound to win her.
And the little mink herself threw diff
fculties enough In the way by bringing
him sharply TO account whenever he Mt.
tempted to breach the subject. She
didn't propose to love or be loved. and
IL she ever could be so foolish Ii must
be brave man.
"None but the brave deserve the fair, |
and you aren't brave. You know you
are not, SIR"
Flood tide found them skimming
down the bay on the natty little schoon-
er Willie In n spanking breeze. jumping |
at the sea like mettlesome horse,
while Captain Doyle stood Mt the wheel |
extolllng her virtues 10 Mrs. Hart. The |
young people were campcd comfortably |
on the deck ut the wlndward side Of |
the malnmast.
Great. isn't it," said Tom. "Now |
what would you say to lobster chow.
der for dinncrf"
Tom, you villalnl You have been /
plotting this spree with Cobb. You |
know dote on lobster chowder."
Down there last week. Told 'em |
we'd be down. Tried TO get mother 10 |
come, but she wouldn't step her foot |
In anything smaller than liner"
"And you never told? can hardly |
believe 1t. l never know when to be.
lieve you, sir"
Fact! Sure enough this time. isn't
II, Captain Doylei"
Fact. sure" said the skipper. Me |
an Mr.. Dalton had a bit of n run doWa |
TO Elm last Tuesday. Tight bit of
weather coming home. too"
"Thomas palinn. do yea riean that
you were down here in last Tuesdays
gale aud never told? And you let us
think you had been detained IN Bos-
ton on business"
"Got II straight from Doyle" quoth
Tom.
The Cobhs were on the beach TO well
come them. Master Harry had hauled
his pots that morning and there would
be lobster chow Ter tag dinner Mt
o'clock. Would they try "A dip at the |
short beach by the runway between |
Elm and Elm, Jr.y They world-that |
is. the young people woald. and Mrs. |
Hart would watch the sport from the
beach.
Once In the water. Mary's spirits |
seemed buhhlirg over AMI she was
soon daring Dalton 10 try race TO n
dory moorcd short distance from the |
beach. He seemed reluctant at first, |
aud was sure IL was too near the cur. |
rent NJ the runway. but to take a dare |