Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1904-05-28
CHAPTER yL-lContinued,l

-. tho circumstances, and FASTENED to
obauoe the subject with as much eXpedI'
+;o, a. possible. But it was the COM
o,,eament of a renewal, or rather the
nrtension. of the intimacy that had OK
;sted between them before all the tragic
e,,ents of the last few weeks.
Hugh as soon as he was in walking
.rim which was before very long, began
60 prosecute his wooing in more de
oi3ed and determined spirit than before.
1Io began to see hope before him, to UNI
1orstand that the girls shrinking ways
we're in all probability due more to mod
estv than aversion, and he admired her
al the more feryently for them. The
dow came at last when he felt that ne
might speak.
i, was a Sunday, and he had heard
Hester saw fhe day before that she in
tended walking to little country church
some four or five miles out of MOrdstOne,
the wav to which lay across meadows
and over stiles, the sort of walk indeed
which is dear to lovers hearts. He de-
termiHed that he would, too, attend
service at Hellanby church.
He arrived there when the service had
commenced, and he stole in as noiselcss
" as he could and seated himself at the
back, looking round for glimpse of the
slender, graceful, little figure he knew
and loved so well.
There she was, right in the front pew.
in her dainty dress of pale blue, with the
colored lights from the stained glass
window streaming in upon her, and Civ
ing deeper color to her rounded cheek,
and hecking her dark hair with gold.
At last the service was ended, and he
followed her out into the sunshine.
Hester was surprised to see him-or
appeared to be-but she did not demur
overmuch when he turned to walk home
wards with her; indeed, it would have
been difficult to do so with any show of
reason; for the path by which she had
come was the direct route to Mordstone,
and by refusing to let him accompany
her, she would have condemned him to go
by the road, which was a good two miles
further
Conversation tagged very much when
they started; Hugh found that his mind
was a blank upon every subject except
the one in which his whole soul was alb
sorbed, and to the commencement of that
the way seemed hopelessly barred.
He thought at first that it was his own
clumsiness that brought him to a dead
lock whenever he neared the delicate
question of his feelings for the dainty
little creature at his side, but presently
he began to see that she was purposely
avoiding it, and it increased his nervous
ness thousandfold.
They had arrived at the last field
which separated them from the high road,
down which a fair sprinkling of people
were walking, vending their way home
from the various churches and chapels in
the town, when he stopped and, delib
erately planting his elbows on the top of
the stile which she was about to cross,
addressed her with a very white face.
Miss Beale," he said, II have been try
ing all the morning-indeed for days
'past--to say something important to
You. 1 must say it now"
Won't it keep till another day." she
said, nervously at is getting late"
Il would rather you listen to me now,
if you don't mind. Hester, you must
know-that is, l hope you will believe
that the dearest wish of my heart is to
make you my wife"
He blurted it out awkwardly enough,
poor lad, but the genuine ring in his
voice was unmistakable. Hester made
but the poorest pretense of doubling it.
Il am sorry you have said this" she
taltered, even if-if-you are quite sure
that you are not doing it with any idea
of pleasing my father"
That reused the manhood in him, and
for the moment put bashfulness to flight
Hugh seized the little brown hand that
lay near his on the stile.
My darling" he cried, his young eyes
flashing, is it possible You can doubt
me? Haven't loved you morning, noon
and night-waking and sleeping-any
time these last two years? Look at me-
Hester, and tell me, if you can, that /
am speaking for somebody else's sake,
not my own'
By sheer force of passion he compelled
her, i'll spite of herself, to meet his eyes,
and the blue and brown ones looked into
each other for n moment, with whole
world of lf-abandonment and revela-
ton IN them. Then, without a word, he
drew her towards him, and pressed his
lips to hers.
With a sudden little cry she drew
back, and freeing her hands, put them
over her face.
no, no. she said; 81 must mott dare
not. Oh! Hugh, if you love me as You
say you do, have pity on me, and 60 no
further with this
But, my dear one. if we love each
other"
Il have not said I love you. I will
never say it. 1 can't marry you, Hugh;
indeed | can't"
Hugh's fair face which had been
flushed with exultation slowly palcd
again
Il don't understand you," he said, in
low voice.
The girl was trembling all over-hys-
terical sobs choked her utterance He
watched her. distressed beyond measure
by her agitation; then he drew close to
her again and timidly touched her hand
Hester" he said, tell me-tell me
what this means"
Do you think" she burst out then,
that / win let you throw yourself away
Oh me? Do YOU think that if l refused
You when | was, or thought was, your
equal, that / win take you now when
am poor, penniless girl, who may be