Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1902-10-03
THE CAPITULATION
OF BARBARA & 8

BY EDITH HIBBARD.

49, $1,000 FA-l-1a 49, -1lAt-A
ACK MERRIHEW was sitting on
ii the piazza of the Howard He had
been sitting there for an hour and
more. keeping a solicitous watch on
lake and sky. and trying now to grow
impatient over the abominable length
of time She was making hmm wait
Her tyranny grew more absolute
every day, yet he would not be freed
Iii was too sweet The last day of
his vacation had come. Had his hopes
any foundations Would it be better
TO wait her return to town before
burning his ships? He hoped he had
courage enough to face a refusal
but a refusal would end all this de-
ightful companionship. Still, in the
meaptime, what if some of these 9th
er fellows! He sprang to his feet.
1t was manifest destiny that she had
promised to sail with him this after
noon.
The wind was freshening and the
surface of the lake was ruffling up
in crisp waves. with every now and
then flash of white. a spray of sweet
clover tell at his feet. He turned to
find her standing in the doorway, tan
talizingly pretty in a green linen
gown, with a knot of sweet clover in
her belt, aud calmly unconscious, az
parently, that .he had waited a mo-
ment for her.
1T may be a bit fresh. You don't
mind that, know" he said, as they
rowed out. only you might have to
help If the wind increased. If you
dislike that we can do something
else"
Nonsense! l wouldn't go for any
thing. You ought to know by this
time that l never turn back"
Barbara Whitney made herself ex-
ceedingly comfortable with many gay
cushions and watched Jacks prep
aratiops She hardly understood her
self the unrelenting tyranny which
she had exercised over this man for
months She had put in that hour
of his FESTIVE waiting in considering
the situation, upbraiding herself for |
her unreasonable exactions, acknowl !
edging his devotion, foreseeing that
the coming tete-a-tete would almost |
certainly bring their relations to the |
crisis of a proposal, and admitting to
herself that she would far rather say
yes than no.
But | cannot say yes unless he
makes me-" she demonstrated, men
tally, her eyes fastened on the 1.-THE
& liz L, -
up the sail. "He is the best bred,
the handsomest man know-and the
dearest, if only he would not adore
me with such abject confidence in my
infallible perfection. In his eyes the
queen cannot do wrong. 1t is terribly
| eXhausting to be constantly on
| pedestal. I'm just a human girl! 0,
Jack, dear, why won't you see it and
make re do things instead of letting
me command you? You are too medi-
eval. my dear boy. that's what you
are. shall have to say mol never
could stand on a medieval pedestal,
and ] should get to hate you if you
persisted in thinking me a horrid
composite of myth and spirit"
Jack settled down as the boat
slipped out with the wind, the sheet
in one hand, the helm tucked under
an arm. There was just breeze
enough to run pleasantly. and yet
permit him to fiji his eyes with
her. which he proceeded to do. The
curve of the cheek next him. golden
bronze with the summers tan, the
round chin, the pretty, impairment
little nose, the dark. sweep of eye
lash-he gave himself so intently to
the study of these that the dark
lashes lifted and let him have a
bewildering glimpse of the gray blue
eyes.
AS they rounded a point the sail
tapped loose, the wind dropped. and
the little waves fattened to smooth
water. The shippers occupation was
gone for a moment. The stage was
free for the lover He moved nearer.
wave of warmer color ran under.
meath the gold brown across her
cheek and throat. The mysterious
blue eyes-were they blue or were
they gray?-fashed a sidewise glance
at him.
"I'm going down on the last train to-
night" he said, playing with the end
of a. coil of rope and bending forward
in an attempt to make the lashes
lift again. II wish that might mean
to you hundredth part of what it
does 70 me-"
She gave him the longed-for look