News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1901-08-07

ulm InaJ.
81 have offended again." he said
slowly. 81 do not meal to do so. Do
women regard it as an affront to be
asked if they are mothers?'
The young lady's composure return
ed to her slowly. She did not reply to
his questions. Presently she approach
ed more nearly to him and, Selling him
by one arm, turned him so that the
light Of the newly risen moon shone
upon his face.
81 WONDER" she said musingly, ad-
dressing the words more to herself
than to him, "if you are such an inno-
ent as you would have me think? Do
you know what you asked me just
!hen?"
Eyes; l asked you if'-
stop! You need not repeat it. I
heard it the first time, and goodness
knows that once is enough! 1t was not
at all a proper question to ask a lady
a girl-a woman. If you give me many
more starts like that, | won't answer
for the consequences. Kansas City
girls can stand pretty much anything,
but you are one too many for me! If
you have any more questions like that
one to ask, suppose you write them
down and let me read them at my lei
sure. I'll think them over and reply
to them by letter when | get back
home. Oh, dear! Will you be offended
if l laugh? I've got to laugh, or cry,
or scream, or something!" And she
did break into laughter, uttering peal
after peal of the musical sound, but it
was mere hysterical than mirth pro-
voking. Isle only stared at her in
amazement. His feelings were hurt,
but he was far too proud to say so.
Presently she recovered, and they
walked along silently side by side.
81 feel as though l were in China"
she said at last, possessing herself
again of his arm, which she had to
shape to her uses before taking it. 81
have been told that they do every
thing backward there, and here you
are the one who is offended, while l
ought to be simply speechless with out
ragged modesty.. You are certainly the
most refreshing subject that l ever en-
countered. l wonder If it would wake
you up if / should kiss you"
The spirit of mischief was in her
now. She felt that the arm to which
she chung belonged to a child-a child
who was sleeping, who had slept long
enough and who ought to be awakened
but she was not prepared for the
calm reply that she received to q
proposition that would have startled
any other man than the one beside her
you may do so, if you like" said
Lisle, unmoved and with the utmost
seriousness. Il have never kissed any
body but my father. In all probability
l will never do so again. | have nc
objections, if you have not"
She was shaking with laughter
!; Presently the paroXysm passed, ant
then demurely she raised her pink ant
white face until it hung just beneath
his. The moonlight shone full upon it
i. and Lisle noticed then for the first time
how d~elicately formed it was, how sof'
and clear and sweet it appeared in tina
) mellow light. He saw how round ant
blue and perfect were her eyes, hal
plunged in shadow by the dropping
lashes that fringed them, dancing witt
mischief. They reminded him of fair.
elfins, peeping out from their rose lea
t concealment, prepared at the frs
alarm to pull the leaves together ant
hide. He saw two perfect lips, be
~witchingly puckered, red, like rip
cherries; soft, like new velvet, like tn
rose leaves behind which the fairie
Y flew to hide, and he leaned over an
touched them with his own.
They walked on in silence after thai
"That was funny" she said pres
y emily.
p what was funny" asked Isle.
'That. Your lips are just like
v woman's. You kissed me just like
II l wonder if you were not GU
Il out for one and spoiled in the NAL
ing"
II Isle shook himself free from he
IT arm and leaped away. His eyes blaze
Ii at uCI' hlS llOnll ulAuNSu VIZ "HSN
his lips quivered, and his whole bein
l. trembled in the effort he made to col
=? troll his rage.
/; you are my guest" he said when
- dared to speak, but his voice was 10
,r and fierce with passion. 81 cannot r
sent that as | would like to do. But
er will tell you this: A cowbo
one of Craig ~Thompson's men - sai
N those words to me once, and l sh,
RI him"
"Shot him! Good gracious! Did yc
x kill himW
mot then, but afterward did"
lie "B-r-r-r! Well, | guess you're a me
all right-in some ways, If not in OF
/ ers. Are you mad"
81 am angry"
"Bosh! Because l said that? l didr
ID mean it. Will that suffice? I'm sorr
ie We're even, anyhow. You offended II
i. and ! didn't cherish it up, so "
mustn't. Kiss me again, and let's
~ friends"
"You will say that / kiss like a wol
n an"
ne mo, l won't. / won't say a wor
ID Here!"
in She put her arms around his ne
IA then and drew his face down to he