The Marshall republican., 1901-11-15

The window, where bis lily blooms
made the o bright spot In the sombre
place. He dropped bis pen end pushed
the hesp Of msnuscripss sside - shs
spoke. The streaks Of gray In his
dark hair seemed strangely q dlscOrd
with The keen, brown fece sud broWner
eyes Of I'VE and thirty.
Have you come N see me, chicks.
biddyY be asked. ''N0w, that's good
Of you. Sit down.
He ros end pushed . huge leather
chair towards his caller. He 1lmpod
slightly - no walked. and Augusts
commented upon the feet socisbly.
cousin Molly says shss thss-she
designated his lsmeness With . glance
-"is like . medal-a badge Of honor.
You got Il 10 the var, didn't your A.
Santiago, she Gays.
Hsrdlug's face redeemed. ibid Miss
Molly ssy that? he asked softly. He
fr0wncd q some inward reflection and
sighed. "Yes-1 got II 10 the war. A
nic lItsle sovlnir d'Espsgne, ehY he
added Quixzically.
He drew his chair close 70 Augusts's
and took her ieshless little hand In
his. "Well, he inquired. land how
goes OUT private and particular worldY
Must We bow 70 circumstances and 20
home to lessons next weekly
Augusta, brought full tilt against
her purpose, psused for . moments
preparation. mo, she assured him
sOberly. ~ don't think SOL don't
think III have To; but I haven't come
70 talk about that. have come on On
errand-s very particular errsnd.
"Yes, said Harding with . smile.
"And what 10 Il, chlckabiddyY
Augusta folded her hands over her
book. Her voice dropped into On
easy conversational tone. ''Cousin
Molly hes sent me. Mr.. Harding. she
ssid. 10 ask you u you will please
marry herY
"Whaiy cried Harding,
Augusts nodded grsvely. II wss
quite right for Mr.. Harding 70 be sur.
prised. She he'd no doubt Priscills's
face went red and white and red again
under just such circumstances. She
followed her chosen precedent cOnscl.
%entiously. ''C'ousiu Molly 10 such .
dear girl, she asserted earnestly.
''She's 10 pretty and she's 80 nice.
Why, you don't know, when her pic.
ture came back last week. she only
cried the least little bit, and when !
cried, too, she laughed and gave me
some chocolates 1--we Ut them!-and
I'm not allowed 70 have any, you
know, and I do love them 80, snd-
and, she concluded rather lamely, ''she
wants n marry you very much.
John Harding nsd walked TO the
window and back again % she spoke
Now he came to AuHusts and regarded
her %anx,Ously. ''YOu sre not quite
veil to-day, are you. dearY he said
gently. '.HOw long 10 II since you
.ere sick9 You're . little isvsrisb. !
think.
He took Augusta hand and felt for
the pulse In the thin wrist. After y
moments earnest scrutiny che swept
his hand and his questions abruptly
"Weil, she cried. "why don't you
Say iI Now Il the time. Say IT,
''ssy what? said Harding. introublsd
bewilderment.
"WhstY She waved her book ..
him fur iOusly. "Why, what you should
say! she cried sxcitsdly. "'Why don't
yOn speak for yourself. Augustay
What else should you say?
The door WAS tapped upon and
opened simultaneously. "Well, good
people, said . fresh, young voice,
''l've conn for my runaway It's time
for her medicine. Have The Young
girl psused. STARTLED Ut the sight 81
Harding's face. "Why, what's the
mattery she asked.
Agusts broke In upon Hsrding's
hesitation. 'Oh, Cousin Molly, he In
az stupid! she cried shrilly. ~ have
done II quite right. Bessie said u
wanted IN AtaY here ahOuld marry