Morris tribune., 1903-01-31

a good thing when he saw it. He
knew a little of human nature, and
below all Mays nonsense he could
discern true and warm heart. A.
all events, Dick was determined to
have her if he could.
They had walked nearly mile
without saying much beyond talk
hg about the weather, for Dick was
making up his mind what to say and
trying to get courage at the same
time to say it. When they reached
a clump of trees not far from the
burn, Mag suggested that they sit
down, remarking that they had had
big washing at the house, and she
felt little tired.
81 MIGHT a thocht O. that afore,
Maggie, if ye'd only telt me-" said
Dick repentantly, ''but lat's sit doom
moo"
cts a foo moon the NIGHT, isn't
it, Dick ?" asked Mag, looking up
into space.
"What did We say, Maggie?0
Il asked We if it was tae be foo
moon. Man, whar's yer lugs?"
ooh ah-I'm thinkin' it is"
Then Dick stroked his chin and
tore up the sod with his heels. cts
fine thing, moon, Maggie, isn't
it ?" Dick at last found words to
say, in order to break the monotony
and gain time, but without being
able to explain why he had said so.
'sHoo is't a guide thing?" asked
Mag, looking at him with the tails
of her eyes.
"Weel-a-I-I've heerd it said
that the moon, We ken, was
guide thing for a-kirnin' milk an
preservin' cheese Dick said, look
ing very guilty, not by any means
satisfied in his own mind that he
had answered the question in the
right way or had fully comprehend
ed it, his thoughts at the moment
being in an entirely different direc-
ton. There was a merry laugh in
Mays eyes, but she restrained it's
vocal expression. She merely shook
for moment with the emotion and
then tried to appear serious.
Maggie" said Dick at length,
still digging up the earth with his
heel, Eyer no engaged, are ye, tae
onybody ?"
Engaged? MIGHTY"
"Weel-I was just speerin', ye
KEN
can what maks ye speer a ques-
ton like that, Dick:''
"Weel- tae tel ye the honest
Gods truth, Maggie, want tae be
engaged tae ye- neseP.o
Dick Lang
ssAye, ats me that's 1speakin',
Maggie, an nae ither. Mas lassie,
if We only kent hoo rnlckle Iloo We.
I haze ma had a NIGHTS sleep thinkin
ABBOTT ye for the last fornicht."
That's no muckle.
'sBut that's no a., Maggie. I was
thinkin' ABBOTT Bob Spaldin'. 1t was
the thocht O him takin' ye frae me.
That was it, lassie-that was it.
I've been thinkin' ABBOTT ye for
years"
Mag looked across the fields at
the red ball of fire that formed a
great semicirele on top of purple.
hill that bounded the far side Of the
distant glen.
"Will ye haze me, Maggie p asked
Dick imploringly.
tSNo, / winna," came promptly
rom her lips.
eye Wilma? Oh, Maggie, think
again, for an answer like that gaes
lame like the stab o a knife. Is't
possible that ye dinna ken I've new
# looed onybody but yersel'? I've
led nae heart tae gle tae onybody
in l kent We years lang game by.
I'm no sac guide lookin' as Bob
Spaldin', an / dinna carry my haid
ae high, an maybe that stands :
ny wi moo. But, Maggie, I've "a
leart here that's yers as though it
lad never lbelanged tae me. Whan
ny granny dees, get 'er biggin,
er coo an a. 'er chattels-that' in
er will, Maggie. The hoos wad be
'or ain, an prood wad ! be tae max
e its queen. But abune a. that,
laggie, / loo ye sairly, an I'll new +
r loo anither. Think again afore
e answer me. viii ye haze me,
Iaggie"
Dick took Mays hand in his, and
he pressed it. She said nothing,
tut simply smiled Her silence was
.cceptance.
The Shoe on the Other Foot.