Rocky Ford enterprise., 1902-01-24
CHAPTER yI-tcontinued.)


Christmas: but never knew that they
could be reekoned upon to know any
thing else that mattered."
But they were In the wars before
they were pensioned."
Maybe" said Mary: that makes no
difference"
Mary" said Jack. when. after
brisk sailop. they were walking their
eobs ieisureiy through the ieafy lane
that led to the farm. MARY. you seem
to be mighty struck with the foreign
looking man.
Hes not foreign looking. Jack: and
why do you think I'm mighty struck"
because ! saw you do what I've
never seen you do. except once"
And what was thatT"
you blushed when he waved his
hand at you"
"Biushed! Rubbish. Jack. did
Aothins OF the kind
II thought you DID," said Jack hum
bly,.
That's because you're jeaious."
II wish you'd give mo tho right to
be Jealous. Mary"
"You are. without the right" she
replied.
"I am. Mary: but II you would give
mo tho right To be. never would be.
so help me hcavcn'"
"And when did blush once before"
said Mary. '.since you have mentioned
Il. Jaek!"
when 7 asked you to marry me-"
81 didn't blush then. Jack. surely: IL
vas such silly thin. for you to ask"
"Ycs, you biushcd-bccausc you
were sorry to say no: II was not n
regular ri.ht-down blush. I suppose.
but your cheeks went rcd. and-weii-
there. We won't talk of It."
NO. you said you never would.
Jack: and we have been right hearty
friends ever since. have We not!"
Yes. Mary"
"And always will be. won't we!"
"Ycs. please God. II We are never to
be anything else" said Jack.
I'VE settled that long ago." she re-
piled. somewhat curtiy.
81 suppose We did" said Jack: then.
with sudden fcrvor. MARY. you have
opened tho old sore. or hnvc myself.
and by the Almighty that made us
both. have lost the power to bear II
any longer"
Jack Mcadows!" exclaimed Mary.
tho color leaving her face at this un-
expected assault. what IL the mat
ter with your"
Jack slid from his horse md stood
by her bridle.
"You are tho matter with me. Mary!
love you beyond repair! I can no
longer live without you! II any 9TH
or man won you I should kill myself
or him! am mad! That look you gave
yon stranger has made me mad! Some
thing in my heart said to me. Jack.
tell her what you feel. ask her once
more to soften to thee!' And I've
done III"
AYE. thou's done IT," said Mary.
assuming the local vcrnacular. rs
country people will when they are in
trouble or In very great earnest: and
I am sorry for thee. for I can never
love you as you'd have me do. and that
Il as certain rs death"
MARY. you have broken my heart!"
Then. surely. thou are selfish. Jack.
I've told you always there is no man
respect SO much. no man l honor
more: I feel towards you as might
towards brother. but I can never
marry n man I don't worship; why
should I? I am not like other lasses:
I am tomboy. old Taylor says. and
I'm more like lad than a lass. I've
known you. Jack, ever since l was a
child-and-there. I'd never have come
out with thee IL I'd dreamed thou'd
begin at me again"
81 couldn't help It," said Jack. his
voice trembling. his face as white as
the ruddy streaks in his cheeks would
allow. his knees tottering under him.
II saw thee look Mt yonder fellow. and
I fear you think he's sort as you could
worship"
"How dare you say 80. Jack! Why.
he only came into the house last
night"
There is such a thing as love at
first sight" Jack replied, "and there Is
such n thing as love that thinks nowt
but of her, thinks nowt but for her.
would die to please her and would
not live to cause her a minnit's sor-
row-that's my love Mary that's my
love-"
He leaned against his horses neck
and covered his face with his hands.
"You have made me very unhappy.
Jack" said Mary, with something of
her natural manner, "and am very
sorry for you and for myself; and now
r know there is truth in the ill-omen
OF putting wrong stocking on left foot.
and finding an owl on her nest, which
did this morning, and dreaming you
are sitting under gibbet and an old
witch won't let you go home.
NAY. Mary lass, don't go away like
that; I'll try and bear UP. I'm
damned conceited fool to think any
lass could care for me, much more thee
above everybody, but"
Mot care for you, lad? Half the
fine woman In yorkshire would he