The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-10-22
ROBIYA-INXE.

Nov. 1 wonder said Robina-
Anne; land again wonder" Robina-
Anne had a soft, round chin with
dimple in it. She had soft, round eyes
and an infinitely sly and captivating
habit of looking sideways out of them.
She looked in this fashion now al her
young man.
IT should like to know" she said.
beginning quite afresh, IF you really
Why, Robina-Anne. what ques-
ton! Haven't we been engaged a
whole six n1onths?"
''Oh, yes" said Robina-Anne, looking
down. Il am taking it for granted
that you thought you loved me six
months ago.
II loved you" he corrected her.
I'll grant you that" she said Il
was only wondering about the present.
sou see. Charlie
"And I wonder what gives you such
strange thoughts. Robina-Anne?
Having nothing better to think
about, perhaps, Charlie"
But you have, girl You have. dear!
Aren't We going to be married IN
month from now? When we've heen
married six years or-or s1xtV-when
we've been through all the-the trials
and things they warn us about, you
know-will be time enough to start
wondering If my love has stood the
the strain and all that; but now"
He was a good youth and handsome,
but not fluent
Robina-Anne, however, seemed to
understand him.
7 know. Charlie" she said; 81 quite
know But in sixty years of married
life we should become so very used to
each other, everything would be so in
evitable, as it were. that to begin.
really begin Analysing our feelings
then. would seem a little unnecessary:
It couldn't make many years difference
anyhow. could it? And so. if ever we
got as far as sixty years together. my
ndNino for hnn or
the pair of old Stiles we should have
become. would be, leave it alone and
and think of better things, of course.
But think the present might be worth
deciding about
I'VE decided it, the lad said, stoutly,
six months ago"
I'VE decided six months ago for-for
six months ago. said Robina-Anne
1--WE thought a great deal about it, and
oh!-and we certainly talked a great
deal about it. and I believe we we e
both quite honest. Charlie"-she broke
OF to say in a tone that was an odd
nisfit with the evenness of the rest of
her speech-"Charlie. you meant every
word you said then, didn't you, dear?''
Every blessed word of itl''
Yes" she went on, I'VE decided quite
comfOrta oily for then. But one changes
one grows. Oh. Charlie! Charliel"
'What?" the lad cried. roughly seiz-
ing her delicate wrists; trying to read
her look. What do you mean?"
Il mean 1 have seen you changing
seen you Grow
A gasp escaped him, a wordless cry.
He let go her wrists.
Take hold of my hands again. Char
lie. Look into my eyesi I have seen it
alI-and it does not hurt, ended Ronln4-
Anne.
With steady eyes she watched the play
of emotions on his face. Relief first of
all and amazement and appreciation of
herself. but quite a new appreciation,
nd hi n
thing again-relief, clearing from his
troubled brow, that was the index of his
simple mind, a multitude of doubts, and
making room for a new, an overmaster-
ing joy.
$50 we shan't be married in a month.
Charlie-or ever said Robina-Anne
She drew her hands from his. and then,
without q backward look she left him
alone, as he longed to be, that he mi ght
slowly realize. and take unto himsslf
this unexpected good-yes, actually good
fortune that had come to him!
For. incredible as it seems. this young
man who might have had, in one short
month, Robina-Anne to wffe-Robina-
Anne, with a thousand tricks. tnous-
and graces: with a dimpled chin, and
soft round eyes that could look-noM
innocent; that could look-how sly! with
a laugh that set you laughing you knew
not, cared not. wherefore; with soft,
sweet, wheeling tongue. and a tender !,
impetuous wOman'S heart to guide, into
harmless ways, her childish trickery--
who might strange. strange young man,
have kept for his lifelong charming this
bundle of sweet charms, had yet grown
in six short months into believing he
loved better q young woman as dull and
heavy as himself She had, it is true,
some money of her own. but what is d
trihing sum of money to compare with
so much? He was a prudent young man
and we'll meaning, but sadly devoid of
taste.
Robina-Anne had a rosy mouth with a
delicate upward curve at either corner
Goo made it for her to laugh with, and
she principally used it for that. She set
it bravely to laughter through the days
that followed. and she drilled her blue
eyes into taking their cue from her
laughing mouth. 1t was the first time
in her sunny life that her mirth had