The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1903-05-26
A TALE OF LOVE.

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you to marry him.
what glorious day." remarked, as
he took my hand with portentous solemnity.
Upon my word" he answered, Il
haven't noticed the weather"
even if you haven't, you might have
said Yes" 1 exclaimed.
Septimus leaned forward with the utmost
eagerness. 'That is precisely what wish
you to say" he insisted.
"The most excellent reason for not say
ing it,"
81 don't see that"
Chow blind you must be this afternoon"
I said. aren't you aware that the charm
of conversation is the unexpected!
"I didn't say 1 expected you to say Yes, ="
he explained, as he sat down; "only that
l wished it."
''For my part" 1 returned, 81 always
make it rule to expect what wish"
''But if you want something"
80, well, of course it's no use yearning
for the moon"
~ can stand anything but suspense"
said Septimus, and he drew his chair closer
to my sofa.
"Now," 1 suggested, suppose there is
something you would like very much in
deed?"
"There is" he answered, with great
deal of energy.
"And you asked-asked person to give
it to you"
Gust what 1 am going to do" said
Septimus, with fine air of determination,
although l did not intend that he should
do anything of the kind-to-day, at least.
''It is quite possible the-the person might
feel inclined to charity"
81 hope to goodness she isl" he cried.
'And yet" continued, cit might-well,
it might not be convenient to-draw check
at the moment, you understand"
"Let US keep money out of 1T, whatever
we do" said Septimus; and, poor fellow,
it is certainly his weak point
Nowadays" l insisted, cit is impossible
to keep money out of anything. You al
ways have to count the COST"
81 shouldn't care if you hadn't dol
lar" he cried, and, as if carried away by
the generosity of his sentiment, Septimus
rose and stood beside me.
''How horrid of you!" l said.
Christine" he whispered, bending over
the sofa; but l realized that the moment
was becoming critical.
eve were talking about money" l sug-
gested
81 want to talk about something entirely
different" he answered. "Love has moth
ing to do"
Indeed" 1 ,retorted, "the one is of no
use without the other"
cts absurd for dear little girl like you
/ to pretend to be mercenary."
"Of course, I'm not mercenary," l said;
"but am immensely practical"
81 wish you were a little more TO-
mantle" cried Septimus, and he captured
my hand.
''Are you going?" | asked.
''Not until"
Until l have finished my parable"
interrupted 81 was trying to make you
understand that IA person might not find
it convenient to draw check at the time;
but if only little judicious patience were
displayed"
"Well?" cried Septimus, eagerly.
at might save certain amount of un-
pleasantness, because it's always horrid to
say: No."
81 don't want check" he persisted.
Gan acceptance would do" .seS
"But isn't an acceptance prOmise!"
at needn't be honOred Just at onee, you
/ know"
"Have you ever signed ;one?" r asked,
and Septimus looked quite embarrassed, all
/ though he tried to laugh; tsa5 49,
II never will again he answered. But,
! Christine" ~ % ~
81 am expecting auntie every minute"
l exclaimed. 81 think l must Send you
away" but Septimus dropped my hand,
/ - ,o1a cd 80 haol
firmly against it. / had not believed he
could look go determined "You will feel
rather awkward if auntie should open the
door suddenly" l limited.
II believe I'm rather out of favor" he
muttered, still maintaining his position.
"Well," l said, you are by way of de-
serving it now and then. Besides, auntie is
inclined to prefer men who haven't quite
such crowd of elder brothers"
II hope to goodness" cried Septimus,
''her niece doesn't sympathize with her!"
"Of course" / admitted, eff you hadn't
so many brothers you might be Older; but
then / like man who is clever enough to
take hint"
i, 81 like you-just as you are!" he insisted,
and once more he walked to the sofa. "a
thousand times better than any woman
have ever SEEN"
"You make an immense mistake" l an
swered.
Christine"
Because am not a woman, and shall
not be for nearly ten months. How nice, "
/ cried, "to be able to act just as one likes,
without getting the consent of horrid
guardians"
eff you would only put an end to this
awful suspense" muttered Septimus; and
/ am afraid laughed at his solemn face
81 don't see that suspense is very aw.
full" l insisted.
Because you don't experience ii" be an
swered.
so, yes, 1 do" said, little injudi-
ciously.
"A-about your future?" he demanded.
at seems rather doubtful sometimes, y
cried.
"Yet it depends entirely upon yourself
30, dear, moi"
"Upon whom, then?" asked Septimus
"You understand" 1 explained, ct re.
ally depends to a great extent whether
whether some one possesses patience and
perseverance, and few other uninterestins
virtues"
"Chris, dear" he answered, 81 could wait