Connecticut western news., 1901-08-29

prehensively from under her lashes. He caught the glance and. moving to- ward her, said:
 "Welly'
 '.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'tw
 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 1t 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 eyinced no intention of moving nor of speaking again, and she became nervous. The situation was unbeara- ble. and she exclaimed:
 We must get back to the othersY'
 "We can't very well go .',rough this rain." he said. without turning round.
 Another prolonged silence. broken only by the monotonous fall of tue rain- Finally, when sue had almost made up her mind to gather up her skirts and run to the hotel. a quarter of 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 his arms and stood before her. looking earnestly into the eyes that she raised to his almost appeal lngly.
 Katherine" be said. "I love you. Will you be my wifeT'
 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. Ills gaze held hers for moment. then her eyelids fell and their long lashes swept her cheeks.
 .'Mr. Pearce." she said slowly and hesitatingly, Il am so sorry, but I-I 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 meY'
 "Because"-she was very busy dis lodging half buried stone with the toe of her shoe-"because you are a Yan- keer'
 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 l am not Yankee" he said with emphasis. Il am from Illinois,"
 It 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 ir''-
 "But l am not jesting." he answered. walking rapidly to where she stood. What l mean Is that you will get wet The water Is beginning to drip from the leaves Here.'' stripping ofr his coat. let me put this around you"
 "Oh. mo-" she said. stepping back
 "Bnt you must The air Is chill. and If you get wet you will catch cold" But you-you"-
 'tIt won't hurt me bit. Come" He assumed comma ndiug tone and that or something else accomplished his end. for she made no effort to free her. | self when be placed the coat about her shoulders. It took long time to get Il | fixed just right, and his arm was still around Der when be looked into her face and saw that she was looking ul into bis Something ID her eyes prompt ed him to draw her close to him and tc say very tenderly:
 sweetheart. l come from the north but love a southern girl Don't you | think that sue can love northern mar | just litlle-it he is not iankeer' She studied the arrangement of his ! necktie closely. and then transferred her scrutiny 10 his watch chain. But | evidently she was not thinking oi either. for when she spoke she asked:
 .Illinois people aren't iankeesY'
 "Certalnly notr' ne replied. with con viction. ''lbey are a long way iron i Yankeetlom- more than LOU miles," She examined the uecktie again. look ed into his eyes for a moment theI | over his shoulder ofr into the rain
 Katherine" he said softly, do yoI love meY'
 She turned her head slowly unti their eyes met A wave of color rushed into her cheeks, and she murmuret faintly. Yes"
 And you will be my wifeT l With perhaps a sudden thought o her surroundings and of a stormy da. 40 years before. she replied, Fl sur render"
 The rain, as If to hide the scene iron i any possible observer. fell more heavil. for a moment Then 1t ceased alto gether, and soon the sun shone througl from a blue sky where the gray cloud had parted.
 His Early Home Coming.