Waterbury Democrat., 1903-02-28
pnrture.

| ~& l Peyton fortunately had time for few words with Mary Amman before he left. As the assemblage was break ! ing up and as his mother and sister ! were putting on their wraps in tha house he found himself alone with her on the balcony. He stood before her for moment without speaking. Mary Annan's eyes shone like the stars above them. Her white figure melted in the darkness about them. Perhaps 1t was that gave her courage. She was a creature of impulse at best. She took her lover's hands in both her own and with an instructive gesture of passion ate self forgetfulness pressed them 1 against her heart.
 Thank you, thank youw she mur- mured, not quite comprehending what she did in her excitement and emotion, ''but I knew how it would be. I knew that you would be true to us at last"
 '"ro you, dear, to you," interrupted Peyton softly, wholly under the spell of her beauty, drawing nearer to her l as he spoke.
 How handsome he looks' she thought. Her head sank beneath the almost fierce intensity of his gaze.
 Not to me" she urged, still not mis- | tress of herself; to the south."
 s'You incarnated that spirit for me tonight Oh, how beautiful you were you arew The words fairly rushed from him. "How loved youl Tell me tell me again. Have you no kinder word for me now, now that am yours, now that I belong to your cause? An. sweet, love you, love you!" I She had released his hands and now stood silent before him in sweet if helpless confusion. Emboldened by her silence, by the yielding that spoke in her position, he stole one arm around her waist. She did not withdraw. She did not resist. She stood quite still. But her heart, oh, how 1t beat and beat! | "Have you no answerY' he whis- l pered, and as she made no reply he bent and kissed her hair falling over her blushing cheeks. "Speak! he urged.
 Acknowledgements me,' she whispered brokenly, softly.
 They were his own words spoken a moment since. As she lifted her face slowly to speak to him he bent his head further, and this time instead of her hair he kissed her lips. She yield ed herself to his burning caress in a surrender as sweet as 1t was unex- pected.
 "Oh, what have I done?" she cried wildly moment later, leaning back from him and burying her hot face in her trembling hands,
 Made me the happiest of men, dear est love, if that kiss be forgiven" Pey- ton answered, drawing her to him, in sistent to pursue his advantage and waiting the longed for admission from her lips.
 He was steeped in love, forgetful of everything. He knew not what he had l said or done. All his thoughts at that moment were upon her. He had held her in his arms at last. He had kissed her; She loved him. What else was there to know or to think about in the whole wide world?
 "Boyd, dear," said his mother, and 1t was the first time in his life that her call was not welcome to him, as she came out on the porch at that very moment, "we arc waiting for you."
 II am coming, mother" he replied, vainly trying to stitie his disappoint- ment. Il was just saying goodby to Miss Mary here," he said, stepping into the light, where he was followed q minute later by the girl.
 She had to come forward, though she shrank from 1t. The conventions of her society required her to speed her parting guests, The keen eye of the older woman saw the slow flush still mantling Mary Annan's cheek. She marked the glisten of tears upon the eyelashcs and drew her own infer ence. She was very. very happy. Her son. her oldest son. the pride of her