The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1902-1905, 1903-11-20

H d
..Why. the boy is ten years youngt
than am," Miss Cresswell said veal
ly, stealing a glance at herself In th
mantel glass.
"lAnd looks five years older at tn
very least" Jack said. "That is one
advantage of being so-ahem-well, st
finely built. At least think 1t over
Tell him you'll take a week to consid'
er his proposal
"You don't think l could be so In
delicate as to accept-I mean to say
either yes or no-under fortnight"
Miss Crcsswell said. "l'll write to
Sandy that must consult my brother
and shall possibly give him a definite
answer Mt the end of fortnight"
With that she clutched the letter and
vanished. The door had hardly shut
behind her when Jack had, Ladylove
tight in his arms and was saying to
the curls on the top of her head: Hon
ey girl, would you believe sat up two
full nights concocting that eplstle for
the good fat witted Sandy? Even at
the last l was afraid he'd see through
it, although truly it is document you
can read pretty well any way you
choose, My heart was in my mouth
until Aunty Nan took the bait. Now
we two have plain sailing. Before the
fortnight is up we can be-
"WhatY Ladylove asked breathless-
ly, freeing. herself and standing In front
of him on tiptoe. He caught both her
hands and made her a reverence, say
ing softly: Happy and married. My
governor sailed for home three days
back. Just let him get here, and I'll
show the gossips I'm no such bad
match for you as they have tried to
make me out. He meant to stay away.
another year, but cabled him how my
life's happiness was at stake. oh, l
didn't doubt you, not the least.
knew you'd be equal to love in a cot
tageA 1t is our friendly enemies I
wanted to confound."
'T'm wondering" Ladylove said in
an almost awestruck whisper, what
Aunt Mans answer Will be-"
II hope yes, for Sandy's sake" Jack
said. ''But one can never tell what ia
going to happen when one man pro-
poses as another man disposes."
49, -
The gossips of Creston were duly
eonfounded. Jack married Ladylove,
with Aunt Mans beaming approval, the
day before Sandy Corlew's probation
ended. Such a piece of news, of course,
ran through the country life wildf1re.
Sandy heard II about sundown and rode
straight and hard to Cresswell. He
found Miss Cresswell upon the porch
there, n figure of graciously mature
womanhood, wonderfully enchanting
in the softening dusk. In spite Of feel
ing that he had been fooled and played
with, Sandy could not speak even
gruffly when he asked, whats all
this cock and bull story of Ladylove
marrying that artist chap Vanston and
going off with him in a coach and
fourT -
"Oh, it's real romance, beautiful
oner Miss CressweI said, rising and
giving him her hand. She did 1t half
shyly, as though fearing 1t might be
detained. 1t was a very white hand,
plump and dimpled as baby's. Sandy
held it between both his own big
palms, while the owner of it ran on:
"You see it was love at first sight with
Jack and Ladylove, but had to be
cool to him because he was strange.
Not soul we knew had ever heard OF
him. He understood and really acted
very well; waited until his father came
to speak up for him. Then there was
no withstanding them. had to let
them marry offhand'-
81 think you might have at least
told me-" Sandy said, half resentfully.
Miss Cresswell blushed-blushed un-
mistakably and said: "There were rea-
sons against it. I-you see, did not
quite know my own mind. Besides ID
might have seemed to you-well, pre-
cipitate"-
mo such thing" Sandy said stoutly.
Even through his denseness he began
to see how the land lay. He began to
see, too, how he could save his vanity
from smart. Miss Cresswell was rich
and handsome and kind. At tho worst
she could but refuse him.
"Now 1 am here, tell me you'll marry
me Christmas" he went on masterful-
ly. Miss Cresswell said nothing, only
let him take her in his arms.
Five minutes later she whispered
softly: "You owe Jack something San
dy-untl he read your letter I thought
you wanted Ladylove."
"Oh, Jack is wise guy" Sandy said
with the accent of conviction.